Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir.
Moderate to strong southwest winds may have built fresh wind slabs at higher elevations.
Seek out sheltered terrain but keep an eye on how warming temperatures are affecting the top layer of snow.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in our region on Friday.
On Thursday, several natural loose wet size 1-1.5 avalanches were reported on solar aspects.
Wednesday saw a few skier accidental, size 1, wind slab avalanches on northwest aspects at 2100 m. In steep north-facing alpine terrain power sluffing from skier traffic was reported to easily gain mass and become loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5.
Snowpack Summary
By Sunday morning around 10 to 20 cm of storm snow will overlie 15 to 30 cm of soft snow. A widespread crust is found down 30 to 50 cm, except on north-facing slopes at treeline and above, where it sits on old, faceted surfaces, and surface hoar in some areas.
The mid-pack is generally well-settled.
In some areas, the lower snowpack includes a layer of weak facets near the ground. No recent avalanches have been reported on this layer. However, we continue to track the layer and watch for any signs of it becoming active again.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with some clear periods, trace accumulation, winds southwest 25 to 35 km/h, freezing levels staying above 1500 m.
Sunday
Cloudy, 2 to 5 cm accumulation late in the day, winds south 30 to 40 km/h, freezing levels potentially getting up to 2100 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy, 10 to 15 cm accumulation by the morning with another 30 cm of wet snow during the day, winds southwest 30 km/h gusting to 60, freezing levels as high as 2200 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy, 5 cm accumulation, winds southwest 30 to 35 km/h, freezing levels back down to around 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.
- Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
- Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Incremental new snow and strong southwest winds are building deep pockets of fresh wind slabs on leeward slopes. Look for signs of instability especially as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
In areas where you see more than 15 to 20 cm of new snow be cautious of storm slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Warming temperatures on Sunday may cause recent snow to be primed to form wet loose avalanches
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5