Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Apr 9 – 10, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Where the sun comes the surface snow will moisten quickly and increase the potential of loose wet avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    10-35 cm of recent storm snow is only slowly bonding with the underlying dry snow on north facing slopes above 2000 m. Moderate northerly winds might create shallow wind slabs in immediate lee features along ridge crests overnight and during the day.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Warm temperatures and sun exposure will increase the potential for loose wet avalanches.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mainly cloudy with flurries / moderate northerly wind / freezing level at 1500 mWEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries / light to moderate northwest wind / alpine high temperature -2 C / freezing level 1900 mTHURSDAY: Mainly cloudy / 5 cm accumulation overnight / light southwest wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1700 mFRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / trace of snow / light north wind / alpine high temperature -4 C / freezing level 1900 m

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, only a few human triggered loose wet avalanches to size 1 were reported.On Sunday, there were reports of numerous natural, human and explosive triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2.5 at treeline and in the alpine on all aspects (see this MIN report).On Saturday, explosives triggered small (size 1-1.5) storm slab avalanches up to 30 cm deep. Skier traffic triggered small pockets of storm snow with the deepest (up to 40 cm) and most reactive deposits in specific lee terrain.

Snowpack Summary

10-35 cm of recent storm snow that fell over the weekend sits on a melt-freeze crust on most aspects and is bonding well with the underlying layer. On north facing slopes above 2000 m, where the recent new snow sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals) it is not bonding as well and might be sensitive to triggering. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline.

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