Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
More snow is expected on Monday. Observe for the bond of the new snow to the previous surfaces before committing into avalanche terrain. Be particularly cautious under periods of rapid snowfall loading, as avalanche activity will likely increase.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
MONDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 15 cm, light to moderate southwest winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1200 m.TUESDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, light to moderate west winds, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1500 m.WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and clouds, light southeast winds, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1500 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, small storm slab and loose wet avalanches were reactive to skier traffic within the recent storm snow. The storm slabs were at treeline and alpine elevations, 15 to 45 cm deep, and often in lee terrain features. The loose wet avalanches were generally at below treeline elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs may linger in lee alpine terrain features, which were produced from strong south winds. Rain to at least 1800 m produced wet snow on all aspects, which will freeze into a melt-freeze crust at higher elevations. New snow will fall on these surfaces. Numerous other melt-freeze crusts exist in the upper snowpack from rain, sun, and warming over the past month. The snowpack below this is generally well-settled and strong.At lower elevations below treeline, a spring snowpack exists.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.