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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 28th, 2022–Jan 29th, 2022
Alpine
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Regions: Kootenay Boundary.

Assess for unstable snow on isolated terrain features and practice good travel habits.

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear skies with no precipitation, 20 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C.

SATURDAY: Partly cloudy with no precipitation, 20 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -4 C.

SUNDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 30 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.

MONDAY: Early-morning snowfall then clearing, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, 20 km/h northwest wind, alpine temperature -10 C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Thursday. A few small (size 1) skier triggered slab avalanches were reported north of Nelson on Wednesday, which failed on a 20 cm deep surface hoar layer on north and east aspects but were only 5 m wide.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar crystals are found on the snow surface in sheltered areas and a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects. These will become important layers to track once buried by new snow. 

There are several other crust and surface hoar layers buried 20-40 cm deep. These layers have shown variable results in snowpack tests and in many areas do not currently present as a problem. At this point they could produce isolated small avalanches like the ones described in the Avalanche Summary. 

A crust and facet layer near the bottom of the snowpack (100 to 200 cm deep) has been responsible for sporadic avalanche activity since early December, but is not a concern under the current weather conditions. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Use caution when approaching steep and rocky terrian.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Carefully evaluate bigger terrain features on an individual basis before committing to them.