Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Jan 14, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Bust out the sunglasses for another warm and sunny day. Warmth can weaken the snowpack quickly, so watch your exposure to steep, sunny slopes and cornices.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs may be found near ridges and ribs. In some areas, these may overlie a touchy buried surface hoar layer.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Sun and warm temperatures are causing loose wet and wet slab avalanche conditions. Look for clues like sticky snow, rollerballing or recent avalanche activity that indicate the snowpack is losing strength.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: Sunny and warm. Freezing level near 2200 m, with cooler air in the valleys. Alpine high near +5. Light winds. TUESDAY: Sunny and warm. Freezing level near 1700 m. Alpine high near 0. Light winds. WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level near 800 m. Alpine high near -3. Light winds. More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Avalanche Summary

There were several size 1-1.5 loose wet avalanches on sunny slopes on Saturday.A wind-loaded NW slope was triggered remotely by skiers on Copper Mountain on Friday. The avalanche was reported to have failed on a layer of surface hoar. See the MIN report here.

Snowpack Summary

Warming has promoted settlement of upper snowpack layers and created surface crusts. Wind slabs exist in alpine areas and may overlie buried surface hoar. Professionals continue to monitor a couple of persistent weak layers in the upper 50-150 cm of the snowpack. Poor overnight freezes and daytime warming will keep the chance of triggering a deeper slab elevated for another day or two. Persistent weak layers are most likely to be triggered from thin, rocky areas with a variable snowpack or with a large load, like cornice fall.

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