Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Steady precipitation over the coming days will gradually elevate the avalanche danger. There is uncertainty for the amount and type (snow or rain) and also for the freezing level during the period.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with flurries, accumulation 5-10cm mostly overnight Friday into Saturday / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1800m SUNDAY: Cloudy with wet flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Light southwest wind / Alpine temperature 3 / Freezing level 2100m MONDAY: Periods of snow or rain, accumulation 10-20cm / Light west wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1700m
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday and Friday, reports indicated loose dry and wet avalanche activity from steep slopes and terrain features at tree line to size 1.5. No new avalanche observations reported on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
20-30cm of moist new snow is sitting on previous moist snow or crust surfaces . Recent winds from the southeast and southwest have sifted the new snow, forming isolated wind slabs in leeward terrain features and slopes. With freezing levels rising, surface snow will likely become moist through the day. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.