Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 19th, 2015 10:12AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Strong SW winds are expected to continue to form fresh sensitive wind slabs that will mainly be a problem in the alpine, but you may find the odd wind loaded feature at treeline too.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Weather Forecast

The South Coast is receiving an absolute lashing from two storms that are expected to impact the coast Sunday and then again Monday. A bit of that energy should trickle into the Mountains of the Kootenay Boundary. SUNDAY: Continued strong SW winds, 2 to 10cm of snow, freezing level topping out at 500m. MONDAY: Moderate SW winds, 1 to 2cm of snow, freezing level around 500m. TUESDAY: Moderate SW winds, 2 to 8cm of snow, freezing level around 500m. For more detailed mountain weather information visit: avalanche.ca/weather

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches to report from Thursday or Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of new snow now covers the mid-December surface hoar. This surface hoar can be found on all aspects in protected areas. Moderate winds out of the S/SW have recently formed fresh wind slabs on lee features. A few different crusts can be found in the upper meter of the snowpack as high as 2400m. At tree-line elevation the December 8th crust is thick and supportive, and may be capping deeper weaknesses.

Problems

Storm Slabs

We're in for a strong dose of SW wind Sunday and there's plenty of snow available to form fresh wind slabs. Wind sheltered terrain at and below treeline may harbour a storm slab up to 30cm in depth that rests on potentially touchy surface hoar.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features and use ridges/ribs to sneak around these problem areas.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 20th, 2015 2:00PM