Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Jan 29 – 30, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Be alert for wind slabs behind terrain breaks such as ridges and ribs.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Loose dry snow can knock you off your feet or carry you into a terrain trap.

Avalanche Summary

Small loose dry avalanches have been failing in steep terrain. In most areas, a cohesive storm slab is yet to develop. At Kootenay Pass, a storm slab exists. Explosives triggered several size 1-2 slabs on Monday there, failing on a buried crust down 20-30 cm.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Moderate to strong NW winds. Alpine temperature near -6. Light snow.Thursday: Moderate NW winds. Alpine temperature near -5. Light snow.Friday: Light W winds. Alpine temperature near -6. No snow.

Snowpack Summary

Around 15-35 cm snow overlies various old surfaces including surface hoar, facets, hard slabs and crusts. The wind has created soft slabs on lee slopes. As incremental snowfalls build up, a cohesive storm slab may develop. Deeper in the pack (about 50-60cm down), a weak interface exhibits mainly hard to no results in snowpack tests, with isolated moderate, sudden results.

Regions covered