Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Apr 10 – 11, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Spring conditions. Avalanche danger is expected to rise during the day due to continued high freezing levels and periods of strong solar radiation. Plan to travel early and monitor crusts carefully as conditions may change rapidly.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Natural cornice falls continue to be a concern during periods of strong solar and high freezing levels.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Loose wet avalanche activity may continue on slopes that are exposed to strong solar radiation. Below treeline all aspects are suspect during periods of high freezing levels, the likelihood will increase if we get some rain.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    The potential exists for large and destructive wet slabs when the sun is strong and temperatures are high, especially if there was little or no overnight refreeze.

Weather Forecast

Mostly clear overnight with light winds. Cloud developing during the day on Monday with freezing levels at 2500 metres. Light to moderate southwest winds on Tuesday with mostly cloudy skies and some light precipitation and freezing levels at 2200 metres. Freezing levels dropping to 1500 metres on Wednesday with 5-10 cm of new snow expected at higher elevations.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

Cornices are large, fragile, and could trigger deep slab avalanches that run to valley bottoms. Monitoring the overnight freeze of the snow surface is very important during the spring. If the snow surface does not freeze overnight or if the crust is only a few cm thick, the effect of daytime heating and solar radiation will weaken the snowpack much more quickly than it would if there is a well frozen thick crust. This is because the crust must first melt before the sun can weaken the snowpack. Low elevation and thin snowpack areas have become isothermal, meaning the snowpack is 0 degrees Celsius throughout. An isothermal snowpack is more prone to full depth wet slab avalanches during the heat of the day.

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