Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Feb 5 – 6, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Extra Caution required in alpine and open treeline features.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–5
    This persistent weak layer is a classic low probability but high consequence problem. Dig down to see if the surface hoar exists in your area.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Storm slabs may remain easy to trigger in alpine and open treeline.

Avalanche Summary

Several skier triggered storm slab avalanches to size 2 were reported on Thursday. These were primarily triggered in lee features at treeline. One natural storm slab size 1.5 was observed on an east aspect at 2000m.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

5-10cm of snow with moderate southwesterly winds on Friday night. No snow forecasted for rest of forecast period. Freezing levels rise sharply on Monday to 3000+m.

Snowpack Summary

5cm of new snow brings the storm slab to 35-45 cm and can be found across most of the region. This new snow lies above a variable old surface buried at the end of January. This interface is being reported as a layer of surface hoar at treeline in the Rossland area. However, in most other parts of the region the new snow sits on a rain crust and/or old wind slabs. A weak layer buried mid-January can be found down 45-50cm, however, snow pit tests indicate that this layer is gaining strength. Deeper in the snowpack, the persistent weak layer that was buried earlier in January is now down 80-120 cm and continues to give sudden planar fractures in snowpack tests under moderate to heavy loads.

Regions covered