Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
A series of storms will start Wednesday night and continue through the weekend. Avalanche conditions will get spicy! If more than 20 cm new snow falls Wednesday night, Thursday's ratings should be increased to HIGH.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Thursday
Weather Forecast
Wednesday night: A moderate storm pulse is expected to bring 10-15 cm new snow to this region overnight, with strong (50-60 km/h) southwesterly winds and freezing levels around 1000 m.Thursday: 5-10 cm new snow expected. Continued strong southwesterly winds. Freezing level remaining at 1000 m.Friday: The second storm pulse is expected to bring 15-20 cm new snow. Strong southerly winds. Freezing level rising to around 1200 m.Saturday: The third and biggest storm pulse is expected to bring around 30 cm new snow. Strong southwesterly winds. Freezing level around 1000 m.
Avalanche Summary
Recent storms have promoted numerous storm slab avalanches to size 2. Most of these avalanches failed naturally or under light loads, and were noted at treeline and in the alpine on north through east-facing terrain. The surface hoar layer which formed a few weeks ago continues to produce isolated slab avalanches to size, 3 especially at treeline where it is thought to be well-preserved. In most cases, these avalanches occurred on steep, unsupported slopes, and required a large trigger like a cornice fall or an avalanche in motion. New snow and wind forecast for the next few days will encourage ongoing storm slab activity. Storm loading will also increase the size and likelihood of avalanches failing on the buried surface hoar layer.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50 cm of snow has fallen over the past 3 days. Strong southwest winds have redistributed these accumulations into much deeper slabs on north through east-facing terrain at treeline and in the alpine. About 80 cm below the surface, you'll likely find a widespread layer of surface hoar which formed a few weeks ago. Although this interface is gradually gaining strength, it continues to produce sudden results in snowpack tests and has the potential to produce large avalanches in isolated terrain. Increased reactivity at this interface has been noted on shady aspects at treeline. Below this, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.