Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Feb 21 – 22, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

The snowpack is touchy and primed for human-triggered avalanches.Don't let the improving weather lure you into high risk scenarios.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    3–6
    Expect the deeply buried weak layer to continue to produce very large and destructive avalanches. Slopes are primed for remote triggering and remains a concern on all aspects and elevations.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    2–5
    Storm slabs are expected to continue to release naturally at higher elevations and especially where the wind has transported snow and built fresh, new wind slabs.

Weather Forecast

High pressure building in the North will be responsible for a cooler and dryer NW flow.  Some unstable disturbances are embedded in this flow, bringing scattered cloud and light precipitation. Models disagree with timing and precipitation amounts on Sunday.Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperatures near -12.0.  Light northerly ridgetop winds.Sunday: Cloudy with some light snow up to 5 cm. Alpine temperatures near -16.0. Ridgetop winds light from the SW.Monday: Sunny. Alpine temperatures near -11.0. Ridgetop winds blowing light from the north.

Confidence

Fair - Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Avalanche Summary

Natural slab avalanche activity up to size 2.5 on all aspects and elevations. Remote triggering and long fracture propagations continue and a skier remote size 3 (50 m away) was reported. Endless settlements and whumphing experienced while traveling on low angle terrain. Low elevation cut-blocks are releasing naturally at the persistent weak interface.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong SW winds has loaded leeward and cross-loaded exposed slopes. There is over a metre of recent storm snow that is sitting on a weak layer that is a mixture of facets, surface hoar, melt-freeze crusts and any combination of these. The weak layer is widespread at all elevations and aspects and continued whumpfing and avalanche activity is reported. The storm slab continues to settle and become more cohesive allowing for longer fracture propagations and remote triggering. This persistent weak layer is expected to be a concern for some time; at least through the weekend.

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