Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Mar 6, 2019Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Wind slabs may be reactive in the alpine. The persistent slab problem still exists at lower elevations and is best controlled by diligent group management and terrain travel.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Continuing strong wind has produced touchy wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain features. The most suspect slopes will be near ridges on south, west, and north aspects, as the wind has been blowing from the east.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2
    Two layers of weak surface hoar and/or a crust are buried 40 to 80 cm. These layers have recently been the most active between 1700 m and 2200 m and on southwest to southeast aspects. The problem is best controlled with appropriate group management.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds, moderate southeast wind, alpine temperature -7 C.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, trace accumulation, light to moderate southeast wind, alpine temperature -9 C.THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 cm, moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -10 C.FRIDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, light to moderate northwest wind, alpine temperature -10 C.

Avalanche Summary

Small (size 1) wind slab avalanches were reported on Monday, being triggered by skiers.Also on Monday, a small (size 1) persistent slab avalanche was triggered by a skier. It released on the mid-February layer described in the Snowpack Summary. It was between 20 and 50 cm deep, on a south aspect, and at 2100 m. Similar avalanches have been triggered recently, such as this one.

Snowpack Summary

Strong east wind has scoured the snow surface in exposed terrain and produced wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain features. In sheltered areas, soft snow may still be found. A melt-freeze crust likely prevails on southerly slopes.Two layers of weak and feathery surface hoar crystals are buried in the snowpack between 40 and 80 cm deep, which were buried mid-February and early-February. The layers may be associated with a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects. These layers remain reactive in snowpack tests and have produced sporadic avalanches in the region over the past week.

Regions covered