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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2014–Feb 24th, 2014

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Don't let the improving weather lure you into high risk scenarios. Check out the Forecasters Blog post for the Kootenay Boundary.The hazard will increase on the first day of full sun.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

The high off the north coast will continue to push modified arctic air across the region. Some unstable disturbances are embedded in this flow, bringing scattered cloud along the southern boundary of the region. Most other locations further north will see sun. Monday: Mix of sun and cloud. Treeline temperatures near -8.0. Ridgetop winds light from the north.Tuesday: Sunny. Treeline temperatures near -3.0. Ridgetop winds light from the northeast.Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Treeline temperatures -2.0. Ridgetop winds light from the west. Freezing levels rising to 1200 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, a skier triggered size 2.5 was reported. Party of three with two involved, no burials. The crown was near 100 cm deep and released near ridgetop in storm snow and then stepping down to the persistent weak interface. Remote triggering and long fracture propagations are occurring on all aspects and elevations. With forecast sun, the avalanche hazard will likely increase on solar slopes.Check out the Forcaster Blog! It shows a photo of a remote triggered size 3 last Friday in the southern part of the Kootenay-Boundary.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate SW winds have loaded leeward and cross-loaded exposed slopes. Changing winds from the north may build fresh wind slabs on southerly slopes. There is over a metre of recent storm snow that is sitting on a weak layer that is a mixture of facets, surface hoar, melt-freeze crusts and any combination of these. The weak layer is widespread at all elevations and aspects and continued whumpfing and avalanche activity is reported. The storm slab continues to settle and become more cohesive allowing for longer fracture propagations and remote triggering from up to 200 m away, yikes! This persistent weak layer is expected to be a concern for some time; at all elevations and aspects. Treeline and below treeline is catching a lot of people by surprise. With forecast sunny periods, solar aspects will likely become more reactive.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.