Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Dec 20 – 21, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Wind slabs in exposed areas and buried surface hoar in sheltered areas. Back off into simple terrain if you encounter signs of instability, like cracking or whumpfing.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    The combination of new snow and SW wind has created slabs on lee features near ridgetops. Below treeline, the storm slab may be extra touchy where it sits on buried surface hoar.

Confidence

Moderate - Track of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

A series of frontal systems is expected over the next three days, bringing light to moderate snow and moderate to strong SW ridge top winds. The freezing level stays near 800 m. Late on Wednesday an arctic ridge starts to build. Snowfall in the south (less in the north): Monday 5-10cm; Tuesday 10 cm; Wednesday 2-5 cm.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 35 cm of new snow now covers the mid-December surface hoar. This surface hoar can be found on all aspects in protected areas. It is variably reactive, showing propagation likelihood around Kootenay Pass. It may become quite touchy as soon as a slab develops above it. Moderate winds out of the S/SW have recently formed fresh wind slabs on lee features. A few different crusts can be found in the upper meter of the snowpack as high as 2400m. At treeline elevation the early December crust, down 30-70 cm, is thick and supportive, and may be capping deeper weaknesses. Check out the latest conditions video at: https://bit.ly/1S2DbYb

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