Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
More snow and high freezing levels are forecasted. Slabs will thicken and the snow will weaken with the warming. Expect the likelihood of triggering avalanches to increase. Treat the hazard as High if you find more than 25 cm of new snow.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 15 cm, strong southwest winds, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1500 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, light south winds, alpine temperature 0 C, freezing level 2000 m.MONDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 15 cm, light south winds, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1400 m.TUESDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, light west winds, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1500 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, widespread loose activity was noted in the region. Loose wet was common at lower elevations and loose dry at higher elevations within the recent storm snow. They were generally small to large (size 1 to 2.5), at treeline and alpine elevations, and generally below rocks or in steep southerly terrain. A few small slabs were also noted within the recent storm snow.
Snowpack Summary
40 to 50 cm of recent snow sits on a hard melt-freeze crust. Strong south winds formed wind slabs in lee terrain features at higher elevations. The snowpack below this is generally well-settled and strong.
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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.