Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Feb 22 – 23, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Potentially warm temperatures at upper elevations Monday afternoon could bump up danger ratings, keep an eye on the thermometer.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Although they are unlikely, destructive avalanches could be possible given a large enough trigger in an area where the surface crust is breakable. Warming temperatures Monday afternoon may increase the likelihood of human triggering too.

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

Monday: Clear skies, light to moderate NW winds, no precipitation, freezing level rising to 1500m with potential for above freezing temperatures at upper elevations in the late afternoon. Tuesday: Increasing cloud cover, light SW winds at valley bottom, moderate NW winds at ridgetop. No precipitation, freezing level rising to 1500m. Wednesday: Increasing cloud cover, light NW winds, no precipitation, freezing level rising to 1500m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity to report.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 5cm of snow covers a widespread layer of surface hoar above a crust that extends all the way to ridge crest. The curst is effectively "capping" the snowpack and doing a good job of protecting the buried weak layers bellow. However, I suspect that the mid-January surface hoar layer could still produce an avalanche if given a large enough trigger in the right spot. It can be found down about 1m in the alpine and 50-60cm at treeline. The mid-December crust/facet/surface hoar weakness may persist in the mid to lower snowpack at higher elevations.

Regions covered