Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
We could more snow in convective flurries on Tuesday, leading to variable snow accumulations.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with occasional snow flurries (around 5 cm). The freezing level is around 1500-1600 m. Winds are light from the W-NW. Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny breaks. The freezing level is near 1800 m and winds are light to moderate from the SW. Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level rockets up to around 3000 m and winds are light from the SW.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday several size 1-2 storm slabs were reported from the northern part of the region. These were all from NW-NE aspects between around 2000 and 2300 m. One slide was reported as a size 2.5 that may have been triggered by a cornice fall and may have released on the mid March crust.
Snowpack Summary
Most areas received 5-15 cm of snow over the past couple days. Fluctuating temperatures have resulted in variable snow surfaces (dry, moist, crusty) depending on aspect and elevation. Moderate W-SW winds have formed fresh wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain at and above treeline. The mid March crust layer is now down 40-60cm. Recent reports suggest that the overlying snow is bonding well to the crust. At many elevations, melt-freeze cycles continue with a weak surface crust forming overnight and then breaking down during the afternoon.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.