Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Actual snow amounts and forecast snowfall amounts vary throughout the region. The danger ratings reflect the higher end of estimates combined with strong winds.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Flurries, accumulations 10-15cm / Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature of -4Wednesday: Mainly cloudy / Moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -8Thursday: Snow Flurries, accumulations 5-10cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -6
Avalanche Summary
Expect an increase in avalanche activity with continued snowfall accumulating Monday night through into Tuesday combined with moderate to strong wind and warming temperatures.
Snowpack Summary
10-25cm of new snow has buried previously formed windslabs, facets and surface hoar. Moderate to strong winds have loaded leeward features with new touchy wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and other show it may have the propensity to propagate large avalanches if triggered from thin rocky areas.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.