Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 6th, 2014 8:30AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

esharp, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: A ridge of high pressure over the coast should mean drier conditions Friday before the next front system slides down the BC coast on Saturday extending into southeastern BC by late Sunday. Tonight and Friday: Isolated flurries or showers possible / Light W winds / Freezing levels 2000m Saturday: Isolated flurries or showers possible / Moderate SW winds / Freezing levels 2000m Sunday: Wet snow or rain overnight / Moderate to strong SW winds / Freezing levels 2100m

Avalanche Summary

The storm slab remains reactive, producing natural, accidental and controlled avalanches up to size 2.5 on all aspects and at a variety of elevations. Avalanche activity was greatest in areas where the recent precipitation fell as rain.Avalanche activity on the mid pack's persistent weak layer has decreased recently which indicating that it is has become harder to trigger. However, the few avalanches that have released on this layer have been large and destructive. Some of these have been triggered remotely.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 55cm of new storm snow sits on top of a variety of old surfaces. A layer of facets can be found on north aspects with a sun crust on many shout facing slopes. In sheltered and shaded features the storm buried surface hoar. Warm temperatures are causing the new snow to settle into a widespread soft slab. Sustained SW winds have have formed winds labs in lee features. Below 1800m rain may have saturated the upper snowpack.The midpack is broken by a widespread persistent weak layer buried mid February and now found down 90 to 120cm. The form of this week layer varies from surface hoar to a sun crust and/or facets but it can be found at all elevations, on all aspects and is still a concern.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Warm temperatures and/or rain is encouraging the settlement of the storm snow into a slab that overlies a variety of potentially weak surfaces. Moderate to strong SW winds have formed stiff wind slabs in lee features.

Avoid open slopes with any steepness over 30 degrees.>The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Persistent Slabs

The mid-Feb weak layer still remains reactive in some areas and has the potential to produce large, destructive avalanches. Warm temperatures and the load of the new snow may 'wake up' this weak layer and very large natural avalanches are possible.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.>Avoid unsupported slopes.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Mar 7th, 2014 2:00PM