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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 6th, 2013–Feb 7th, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Confidence

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Light snowfall / Light west winds / Freezing level at 1200mFriday: Clearing throughout the day / Light northwest winds / Freezing level at 1000mSaturday: Mainly clear skies / Light north winds / Freezing level at 1000m

Avalanche Summary

A few small, skier-triggered loose snow avalanches failed within the new snow in steep terrain.No other avalanches were reported.

Snowpack Summary

Light to locally moderate amounts of new snow have been redistributed into soft wind slabs by moderate southwest winds. The new snow overlies a gamut of old surfaces which include: old wind slabs at higher elevations, surface hoar at treeline and below, and a melt-freeze crust on previously sun-exposed slopes.  These surfaces will be something to watch as the overlying slab develops.About 35-50cm below the surface is an interface of surface hoar, facets or sun crust that was buried on Jan 23. Although it seems to be gaining strength in some areas, this weakness may still reactive to skier traffic in unsupported terrain and remains a concern of professionals in the region.The snowpack below this is generally well bonded.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.