Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Warm air and rain are forecasted for Tuesday. This warming will weaken the snow surface and increase the likelihood of triggering avalanches. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at high elevations and make sure to avoid overhead exposure.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Cloudy with light precipitation, accumulation 5 to 10 mm water equivalent, light to moderate southwest winds, alpine temperature 2 C, freezing level 3000 m dropping to 2000 m over the day.WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud, light south winds, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 1700 m.THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, light southwest winds, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1500 m.
Avalanche Summary
Storm slabs from the weekend's storm snow were reactive to humans, explosives, and natural triggers on Sunday. The slabs were small to large (size 1.5 to 2.5), 20 to 30 cm deep, generally on east to south to southwest aspects, and from 1700 to 2200 m.Loose wet avalanches were also reactive. A natural cycle occurred in the south of the region on Sunday, with small to large (size 1.5 to 2.5) avalanches on all aspects up to 2050 m.
Snowpack Summary
Warm air temperatures have moistened the snow surface at all elevations and on all aspects. Forecasted snow on Tuesday will fall on this. Around 20 to 40 cm of storm snow that fell on the weekend with associated strong winds overlies numerous melt-freeze crusts formed over the past few weeks.The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
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.