Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 27th, 2019 4:27PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.

mbender, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

The avalanche danger trends upward with the appearance of the sun and afternoon warming. The danger is rated for the warmest part of the day.

Summary

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY Night: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation up to 5 cm / moderate east wind / alpine temperature -6 C / freezing level 1000 mTHURSDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / light southeast wind / alpine temperature -2 C / freezing level 1700 mFRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate north wind / alpine temperature -1 C / freezing level 2000 mSATURDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / light southwest wind / alpine temperature 3 C / freezing level 2100 m

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday and Wednesday there were reports of skier triggered thin wind slabs to size 1.

Snowpack Summary

At upper elevations, up to 10 cm of new snow sits on a melt-freeze crust or moist snow. Some of this has been redistributed by southwesterly winds which may have formed isolated thin wind slabs. At lower elevations, expect to see a supportive crust on or near the surface if there is a good overnight freeze. This crust sits above a largely moist or wet snowpack.There are two crusts of note in the upper snowpack. The first crust is down 20 to 30 cm and loose wet avalanches have recently slid on this interface. The deeper one down 60 to 95 cm has produced easy shears in test profiles. Avalanches on this interface are unlikely, but possible.

Problems

Loose Wet

Expect to see crusts that formed from overnight cooling break down quickly if the sun comes out and the surface snow sluff in steep terrain.

Cornices become weak with daytime heating, travel early on exposed slopes.Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.

Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Wind Slabs

5-10 cm of new snow combined with moderate to strong southwest winds has created thin wind slabs in the lee of terrain features.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 28th, 2019 2:00PM