Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
The snow surface should freeze overnight tonight at all elevations, resulting in lower danger early in the day on Wednesday.
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny breaks. The freezing level is near 1800 m and winds are light to moderate from the SW. Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level rockets up to 2500 or even 3000 m. Winds are light from the SW. Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Remains warm with freezing levels near 3000 m. Winds remain light or moderate from the SW.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday and Monday a few size 1-2 storm slabs were reported from the northern part of the region. These were all from NW-NE aspects between around 2000 and 2300 m. One slide on Sunday was reported as a size 2.5 that may have been triggered by a cornice fall and appeared to release on the mid March crust.
Snowpack Summary
In the past 3 days many areas received up to 20 cm of new snow above 1600 m. Fluctuating temperatures have resulted in variable snow surfaces (dry, moist, crusty) depending on aspect and elevation. Moderate W-SW winds have formed fresh wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain at and above treeline. The mid March crust layer is now down 40-60cm. Recent reports suggest that the overlying snow is bonding well to the crust. At many elevations, melt-freeze cycles continue with a weak surface crust forming overnight and then breaking down during the afternoon.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.