Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Mar 22 – 23, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Give cornices a wide berth.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Large cornices are threatening many slopes.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–6
    While becoming unlikely, a persistent slab could still fail with a large trigger like a cornice fall, or from a thin snowpack area.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    A new storm slab may develop, especially on features in the lee of the wind.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

A frontal system is expected to bring around 10-15 cm snow on Wednesday night, with moderate to strong SW winds and the freezing level around 1400 m.  Snow showers linger on Thursday before a ridge brings clearing skies on Friday.

Avalanche Summary

A few small storm slabs were triggered by explosives and a skier yesterday.

Snowpack Summary

Surface snow layers are becoming moist and weak in the heat of the day, but generally settling and bonding with warm temperatures and sunshine. Several crusts are buried in the upper snowpack. Some of these are breaking down on sunny aspects. The late February persistent weak layer down 70 to 120 cm remains a lingering concern. Test results are variable, with occasional sudden planar (pop) results. This interface may remain more reactive on northerly (shaded) aspects above about 1700 m, where buried surface hoar has the best chance of preservation. On sunny aspects, this interface may be a crust/ facet layer. It is most likely to be triggered by a cornice fall or from a thin snowpack area.

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