Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Mar 9 – 10, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Sunshine and warm temperatures on Tuesday could lead to slightly higher danger ratings in the afternoon. If the snow is getting moist or wet then move to cooler, shadier slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Ongoing westerly winds continue to build thin wind slabs in leeward terrain at high elevations. Afternoon sun and warming may increase the sensitivity of triggering these wind slabs.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Loose wet sluffs and cornice collapses remain a concern with continued mild and sunny weather. 

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Mainly sunny with clouds developing late in the day. The freezing level is around 2400-2700 m. Ridge winds are light from the SW. Wednesday: Cloudy with a chance of showers or flurries. The freezing level starts near 2500 m and should lower to 2000-2200 m. Winds are light gusting moderate from the SW. Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with a chance of showers or flurries. The freezing level is steady at 2000-2200 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported recently. It may still be possible to trigger old pockets of wind slabs or loose snow sluffs from steep sun-exposed slopes, especially if conditions remain warm and sunny.

Snowpack Summary

Variable snow surface consists of wind-affected snow or wind-scoured crusts in exposed alpine areas, moist snow or sun crust on sun-exposed slopes, or 5-10cm of dry snow overlying an old crust in shady and sheltered areas. At higher elevations, ongoing winds may be continuing to build thin wind slabs in leeward features. Lower elevations are undergoing daily springtime melt-freeze cycles. The most prominent feature in the snowpack is the thick late-February crust, down 5-20 cm. This crust is supportive all the way to ridge crest and is effectively "capping" the snowpack, keeping riders from stressing any deeper weak layers. There are still weak layers below this crust that we'll continue to monitor, but for now these layers are dormant. We would likely need significant warming and/or heavy loading to re-activate them.

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