Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Apr 4 – 5, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

If the sun peeks out, a round of natural avalanches may occur.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Snow may have been shifted by strong winds into wind slabs at high elevations.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    Large fragile cornices threaten many slopes. A cornice fall could trigger a large avalanche on the slope below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    If the sun peeks out, loose wet avalanches are possible on steep, sunny terrain.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Cloud, moderate to strong NW winds and a few snow showers may linger on Tuesday morning, before a ridge brings dry and very warm weather again for the remainder of the week. Freezing levels are expected to climb above 3000 m by Wednesday.

Avalanche Summary

A natural cycle of size 1-2 loose wet avalanches continued though the week and into Saturday. On Friday, an explosives control mission near Nelson produced several size 2-3 wet slab avalanches. A size 3 cornice-triggered slab also released naturally.

Snowpack Summary

Large cornices overhang alpine slopes and threaten to trigger avalanches on slopes below. New snow will have landed on moist or crusty snow surfaces, and may have been shifted by strong winds into wind slabs. At low elevations, the snowpack is isothermal. The late February surface hoar/ crust interface (down 80 to 130 cm) remains a low probability/ high consequence concern. While generally unlikely to be triggered, this layer could produce surprisingly large avalanches with a cornice fall or warm temperatures.

Regions covered