Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Snowfall amounts and timing of the approaching snowstorm are uncertain. As storm totals approach 10 cm moderate to strong southwest winds will likely create shallow wind slabs.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear with cloudy periods and flurries / moderate southwest wind / alpine low -4 C / freezing level 1400 mSATURDAY: Cloudy / up to 10 cm snow accumulation / moderate to strong southwest wind / alpine high -4 C / freezing level 1700 mSUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with flurries / up to 10 cm snow accumulation Sunday night / moderate southwest wind / alpine high -6 C / freezing level 1500 mMONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / light southwest wind / alpine high -5 C / freezing level 1700 m
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, no new avalanche activity was observed. On Wednesday, only a few explosive triggered wind slab avalanches were reported.On Tuesday, a few human triggered wind/storm slabs up to size 1 were observed on sun affected slopes in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
The new snow likely falls on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north facing slopes above 2000 m, where the snow surface consists of dry snow. Last week's unsettled weather produced 10-35 cm of snow and is bonding well with the underlying layers.Snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline.
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.