Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Flathead, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Lizard, Lizard-Flathead, Moyie, Norns, Retallack, Rossland, South Okanagan, St. Mary, Ymir.
Snow is available for transport, and with increasing westerly winds, human-triggered wind slabs are possible. Actively look for instabilities like shooting cracks and whumpfing.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Explosive-controlled storm slabs up to size 1.5 were reported in the Fernie area Saturday. Cornice noses are overhanging and may be reactive.
On Thursday several skier-triggered storm slab and dry loose up to size 1.5 were reported in the Nelson area.
Snowpack Summary
New low-density snow is being redistributed by westerly winds, developing wind slabs over various surfaces of surface hoar, soft snow, wind-affected snow, and a thin crust formed on steep, solar-facing slopes. A crust now buried 30 to 40 cm deep seems to be well-bonded at lower elevations, in the alpine this may still need some time to bond.
Crusts and facets in the mid and lower snowpack can still be found in isolated pockets and we will continue to monitor them for signs of reactivity.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with scattered flurries starting in the west with 2 to 5 cm accumulated. Alpine wind 20 to 30 km/h southwest. Treeline temperature -9 °C
Sunday
Cloudy with flurries 7 to 10 cm accumulated. Alpine wind 20 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -6 °C
Monday
Cloudy with scattered flurries 3 to 5 cm accumulated. Alpine wind 20 to 30 km/h southwest. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries 1 to 2 cm accumulated. Alpine wind southwest 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Low-density snow coupled with moderate westerly winds will redistribute snow into lee terrain features at alpine and treeline elevations
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2