Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Flathead, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Lizard, Lizard-Flathead, Moyie, Norns, Retallack, Rossland, South Okanagan, St. Mary, Ymir.
Consistent periods of new snow and variable winds have built wind slabs over the most recent crust. Use caution as you transition into open terrain at alpine and treeline.
Confidence
No Rating
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported. Suspect low-density storm snow will be redistributed by moderate winds developing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations.
This MIN post is a great example of human-triggered slabs in lee terrain features. These treeline and alpine features likely have an additional 15 cm of new snow to consider.
Snowpack Summary
Roughly 15 to 20 cm of new snow has buried various surfaces of soft snow, wind-affected snow, and a thin crust formed on solar aspects. This surface snow sits on a crust now buried 30 to 40 cm deep, in the alpine the bond may be weak between these layers and seems to be well-bonded at lower elevations.
Crusts and facets in the mid and lower snowpack can still be found in isolated pockets and we will continue to monitor them for signs of reactivity.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Mainly cloudy with flurries continuing into Friday morning, with 5 to 8 cm accumulation highest amounts near Fernie. Alpine wind southwest 20 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Friday
Clearing from west to east with continued scattered flurries 2 to 4 cm. Alpine wind is variable, generally northerly, 20 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Clear with cloudy periods. Alpine wind west 10 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Sunday
Mainly cloudy. Alpine wind southwest 20 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
An additional 10 cm of new low-density snow brings new snow totals between 20 to 40 cm over a crust. Moderate southwest winds will likely begin to redistribute this new snow into lee terrain features at alpine and treeline elevations
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2