Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of light flurries and temperatures reaching -5. Winds should be light southwesterlies with occasional gusts to 40km/h. The Western edge of the region could see slightly more snow than the East.Monday: A mix of sun and cloud, with precipitation building into the evening. 10 cm possible. Temperatures should reach -5 with light west/southwest winds.Tuesday: Expect continued light snowfalls under light southwest winds with temperatures reaching -3.
Avalanche Summary
Continued sluffing in steep terrain to size 1.0, otherwise no new.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 5cm of low density new snow overlies the January 4th interface. Moderate south/southwest winds have redistributed this new snow into small windslabs in immediate lee features in the alpine and exposed treeline.The January 4th interface consists predominantly of loose facets up to 30cm deep. In isolated locations (sheltered treeline and below treeline) surface hoar up to 12mm is present. There is a 1-3cm sun crust on steep south and west facing terrain. In exposed locations, old windslabs linger.The midpack is well bonded and strong. Concern remains in specific locations (Rossland Range) for the November 28 surface hoar buried 95cm. The deep crust/facet combo from early November still exists and concern remains (although unlikely) for triggering from a shallow spot.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.