Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Retallack, Rossland, South Okanagan, Valhalla, Whatshan, Ymir.
A surface crust has made for generally safe avalanche conditions.Remain alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported.
Field observations have been very limited, if you head into the backcountry please consider submitting your observations to the MIN.
Snowpack Summary
A dusting of new snow may be found sitting on a thick and widespread melt-freeze crust. This crust should soften and melt at lower elevations and on steep sunny slopes during the heat of the day. Shady, high-elevation northerly alpine slopes may still have dry snow and isolated lingering wind slabs.
Cornices are large this time of year and may become weak with daytime warming. They should generally be avoided.
Otherwise, the snowpack is generally strong and well-bonded.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Partly clear, with isolated flurries possible. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Friday
Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
Saturday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 3 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature - 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.