Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Apr 19 – 20, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

If temperatures remain warm, rain soaked wet slabs releasing on crust layers are still possible.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    If temperatures remain warm, loose wet avalanches are still possible with strong solar radiation.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    If temperatures remain warm, wet slabs releasing on crust layers are still possible.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clearing / Light, northwesterly winds / Alpine low 0 C / Freezing level 2000 m.

SATURDAY: Sunny / Light, northwesterly winds / Alpine high 5 C / Freezing level 2100 m.

SUNDAY: Sunny / Light, northwesterly winds / Alpine high 8 C / Freezing level 2500 m.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 9 C / Freezing level 2600 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Thursday. However, avalanche activity is expected to increase on Friday with the forecast rain to mountain-tops.

On Tuesday, a party skiing near Kootenay Pass reported "whumphing" on solar aspects near ridgetops and triggered a size 2 storm slab avalanche sitting on a crust on a north aspect at around 2000 m. See the MIN report HERE.

On Sunday, a skier triggered a small size 1 wind slab that then stepped-down and triggered a size 2.5 persistent slab avalanche on a northwest aspect in the alpine. See the MIN report HERE.

Snowpack Summary

Rain to mountain-tops Thursday night has soaked 20-40 cm of recent snow and initiated a loose wet avalanche cycle at treeline and above.

Below treeline, the snow is disappearing rapidly.

Regions covered