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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 8th, 2025–Feb 9th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary.

Triggering an avalanche is still possible in wind loaded terrain or areas where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.

Back down from areas if you see signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

  • Friday: Numerous large ( size 2 to 2.5) avalanches were produced during explosives control in the region. in the alpine and at treeline on many aspects. A few small (size 1) naturals continue to be reported on east aspects.

  • Thursday: Reports of a few rider and remote triggered avalanches (size 1 to 2) on east aspects and north east aspects at all elevations.

  • Wednesday: West of Creston, explosive avalanche control produced several large slab avalanches (up to size 2.5)

Snowpack Summary

A dusting snow in the region covers 30 to 55 cm of low density snow which is settling over a layer of surface hoar buried at the end of January. In some parts of the region, alpine and treeline wind has formed deeper, denser deposits of snow in leeward terrain, and potentially scoured some windward ridgetops.

The buried surface hoar has been reported to be as large as 20 mm. On shaded slopes it's sitting on 10 to 20 cm of loose, sugary facets, but on sunny slopes it's sitting on a thin, hard crust.

This layer has been the culprit for many natural and human-triggered avalanches this week, and is not expected to break down and bond anytime soon.

The lower snowpack is strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy with flurries. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 10 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

Problems

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.