Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
There is uncertainty with precipitation amounts Tuesday night through Wednesday. Higher than forecast snowfall at upper elevations may raise danger ratings from what is indicated.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Wednesday
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm Tuesday night and another 5-10cm through the day Wednesday / moderate southwest winds / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1200 m THURSDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light north wind / Alpine temperature -2 / Freezing level around 1600mFRIDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / Light east wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1700m
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Monday indicate loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 on all aspects between 1600 and 2000m. Additionally skier triggered avalanches to size 1.5 and 2 were reported running 40cm deep on the mid March rain crust above 1900m on northerly and southerly aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Unsettled weather over the past week has brought roughly 40-50 cm of snow to the region. Periodic high freezing levels and solar exposure over the same period formed a variety crusts within the storm snow at both lower elevations and on solar aspects. This all overlies a rain crust that formed mid-March at all elevations. At upper elevations, above 2100m approximately, the late and mid-February persistent weak layers (100-150cm down) and basal facets in shallow snowpack areas may still exist.
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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.