Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Mar 30 – 31, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Forecast warm weather and potential sunny periods Friday will keep the avalanche danger elevated at upper elevations

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Recent snow accumulations and wind have developed reactive storm slabs in the alpine and at tree line.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Warm spring days with high daytime freezing levels and potential sun may continue to result in loose wet avalanches on all aspects.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Friday

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1800mSATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny breaks and isolated flurries / Moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2 / Freezing level 1700mSUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate northwest wind / Alpine temperature -5 / Freezing level 1400m

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday there were reports of both natural and explosives controlled storm slab avalanches 20-40cm deep to size 2 on southerly and northwest aspects at tree line. One report detailed a size 2 remotely triggered avalanche running on the melt freeze crust formed by the March 21 warming event. This ran on an east aspect at 1900m and was 50cm deep. There were also reports of skier controlled avalanches at tree line to size 1.5 on east an north aspects.

Snowpack Summary

A series of snowfalls throughout the past week accumulated roughly 60-90 cm of new snow in 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.

Regions covered