Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Dec 31, 2014 – Jan 1, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

The Special Public Avalanche Warning has been extended. Stay cautious and be conservative in your terrain selection.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Recent strong northerly winds has transported new snow into pockets of stiff, reactive wind slab. Due to the reverse loading pattern, wind slabs may be triggered in unsuspecting locations in the alpine and at treeline.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–5
    A persistent weak layer, buried 30-80 cm below the surface continues to be a concern and skier/ rider triggering is likely.

Confidence

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

Weather Forecast

An above freezing layer has pushed into the Interior ranges and will persist through Thursday allowing for a strong alpine temperature inversion. Alpine temperatures will be near -5 and below treeline temperatures will be near -13. Ridgetop winds will be moderate from the north-northwest. Friday will bring change in the weather pattern. Confidence in model agreement is poor with precipitation and wind values, however; it looks like we could receive 5 mm, accompanied by strong west-northwest winds.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche observations on Tuesday showed explosive triggered persistent slab avalanches failing up to size 3 mostly on N-NE aspects from 2000-2200 m. We continue to get reports of skier-triggered, and remotely triggered slab avalanches up to size 2 Check out the new Mountain Information Network observations for a more detailed report. This layer remains touchy to light loads, like YOU.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 35 cm of light, low density snow overlies recently formed surface hoar. Strong northerly winds have transported the new snow onto southerly aspects creating stiff and reactive wind slabs. Up to 80 cm below the surface, a touchy weak layer of surface hoar sitting on a thick rain crust exists. This widespread weak persistent layer consisting of surface hoar/ facets and a hard rain crust was buried mid-December and continues to produce whumpfing and sudden planar characteristics in snowpack tests. Although high elevation slopes may not have the rain crust, they are still reported to have touchy buried surface hoar. At the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet combo appears to have gone dormant for the time being.

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