Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Finally, the weather pattern has changed!A Pacific frontal system moves through the Region bringing unsettled conditions with snow amounts up to 10 cm at higher elevations. By Saturday midday we could see and accumulated 10-20 cm. Mountain top winds will initially be strong from the south, switching to the northwest by Saturday afternoon. Freezing levels will remain at valley bottoms. Late Sunday another stormy system will reach the Interior bringing additional snowfall amounts.

Currently there are no recent avalanche reports, however; there is enough snow at higher elevations (treeline and alpine) where certain avalanche problems may exist.

Welcome to winter! Its that time of year where observations are limited and winter has been slow to start. The snowpack is thin and variable, early season conditions and hazards exist. Recent reports North of the region suggest that the total snowpack in the alpine is 80-100 cm, but I suspect less in the Kootenay Boundary. Pockets of wind slab may exist on leeward slopes at upper elevations. New snow near 10 cm has fallen on a series of weak surface crystals (crusts, surface hoar, facets). This new snow may have a poor bond to the previous surfaces. A solid crust that formed early November is buried below the surface around 30-40 cm down in many places at treeline and above. The new snow will hide early season hazards like crevasses, rocks, and stumps and gaining access to upper elevations is extremely challenging.