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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2023–Feb 2nd, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Moyie, St. Mary.

Wind slabs continue to be triggered by riders in this region. Don't commit to a steep slope if the snow looks wind-affected or feels dense or stiff.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Small wind slabs size 1 to 1.5 continue to be triggered by riders in this region. Wind slabs may remain active in steep, open terrain where the winds have cross-loaded features.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 10 cm of accumulated low-density snow continues to be redistributed by variable winds in the alpine. On steep southerly aspects, snow sits above a melt-freeze crust while on northerly aspects it overlies previously wind-affected surfaces.

A surface hoar layer from early January is found down 40-80 cm. Its distribution is spotty, but can still be found in sheltered and shaded terrain features.

The lower snowpack contains weak and faceted grains. Avoid shallow, rocky areas where snowpack transitions from thick to thin and triggering weak layers is more likely.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy, clearing overnight, no new snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest winds. Treeline temperatures high -10 °C

Thursday

Partial clouds, no new snow, increasing southerly winds 15 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures high -4 °C

Friday

Partly cloudy, flurries 2 to 5 cm new snow, 10 km/h southerly winds, treeline temperatures -3 °C

Saturday

Cloudy, flurries 2 to 5 cm of new snow, 10 to 20 km/h south winds, treeline temperatures -5 °C

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.