Kootenay Boundary

Keep an eye on changing conditions.

Small wind slabs have likely formed near ridge crests.

There have been no new reports of avalanches since Monday when explosive avalanche control produced several storm slabs up to size 2. Notably, these avalanches did not step down to the December persistent weak layer.

If you are headed into the backcountry please consider sharing your observations via the Mountain Information Network.

Throughout the day on Friday new wind slabs formed as a result of moderate southwest winds and light snowfall. In areas protected from the wind, expect surface hoar to be buried.

The upper snowpack contains a variety of layers including one or more surface hoar layers just below the surface in sheltered terrain and a crust on or near the surface on solar aspects.

Down 50 to 120 cm a weak layer of surface hoar or a facet/crust combo from early December can be found. Snowpack tests indicate it is slowly gaining strength.

The lower snowpack is generally strong and well-bonded.

Friday Night

Cloudy with snowfall 5 to 10 cm. 40 to 80 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with around light snowfall 1 to 3 cm . 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Sunday

Clearing throughout the day. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.
• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.