Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Mar 14 – 15, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Choose gentle, low consequence lines and avoid overhead hazard.

Check out the forecaster blog for a detailed conditions update.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Several persistent weak layers exist in the upper meter of the snowpack. The greatest concern for triggering these layers lies in areas where a thick, supportive crust is absent under the new snow.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Up to 40 cm of new snow has fallen in the region with an additional 10 cm in the forecast. Storm slabs will be especially reactive on wind-loaded northerly through easterly slopes near ridgetops.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Thurs: A widespread region-wide avalanche cycle of natural and human-triggered avalanches occurred, with slabs up to size 3 (very large). The majority occurred on north and east facing slopes

Tues/Wed: Several size 1-1.5 natural and skier-triggered storm and wind slab avalanches occurred.

Looking forward: Storm slabs are expected to remain reactive and may step down to deeper persitstent weak layers.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 40 cm of new snow fell in the last storm creating widespread and reactive storm slabs. Up to 10 cm of additional snow may fall on Saturday. Lower elevations and sun-affected slopes may have moist or crusty surface snow.

There is potential for the new snow to overload persistent weak layers in the upper to mid snowpack, causing storm slabs to step down to deeper layers. These include:

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from early March buried 25-50 cm.

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from mid-February buried 40-90 cm

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from late January buried 80-120 cm.

The rest of the snowpack is well settled with no other layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 3 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

Partly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Be aware of the potential for human triggerable storm slabs at lower elevations, even on small features.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Regions covered