Kootenay Boundary

There is a lot of uncertainty with the buried surface hoar layer down 40 to 80 cm. Human triggered avalanches are most likely at treeline and on sheltered alpine features. See our new Fx'rs Blog here for some insight into managing this problem.

Low - Due to the number of field observations

We are  transitioning into a period of pronounced high pressure. The forecast period is marked by cooler temps, the potential for sunny periods and a lack of significant precipitation, even in the extended forecast.FRIDAY NIGHT: Freezing level around valley bottom, light west wind, a trace of snow possible. SATURDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level around 900 m, light northeast wind, no significant precipitation expected.SUNDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level around valley bottom, light variable wind, no significant precipitation expected.MONDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level at valley bottom, light variable wind, no significant precipitation expected.

No new avalanche observations from this week. Two MIN reports from Saturday November 24th are worth your consideration though:This one describes a rider getting caught and carried in a small storm slab in the Ymir bowl area. This one details a group of riders triggering a large deep persistent slab avalanche in Meadow Creek which is in the neighboring South Columbia region. Multiple folks were involved, but thankfully everyone survived.Huge thanks to everyone posting to the MIN, please continue to do so here.

The storm that arrived Sunday night delivered 20 to 40 cm of snow that has settled out to about 30 cm of soft snow. At treeline the total height of snow is now between 100 and 140 cm. 40 to 80 cm below the surface lies a persistent weak layer that was buried on November 21st. This weak layer consists of surface hoar (feathery crystals) in most places, but may present as a sun crust on steep south facing slopes. This layer has been reactive in snowpack tests this week. Check out this MIN from Thursday that talks about it. This surface hoar is thought to be widespread at treeline and it may be found in sheltered alpine features too. A recent MIN report suggests that this layer was producing obvious signs of weakness at Kootenay Pass on Tuesday.At the base of the snowpack is a thick melt-freeze crust that formed near the end of October. This crust has shown limited reactivity thus far, but observations are very limited.