Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Mar 25 – 26, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

There is some precipitation forecast overnight Monday into Tuesday morning. This is expected to fall as snow at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    5-10 cm of new snow combined with moderate to strong southwest winds will promote thin wind slab formation in the lee of terrain features.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Rain at at lower elevations Monday night and the possibility of the sun coming out during the day Tuesday will maintain a likelihood of triggering loose wet avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

MONDAY Night: Flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm at upper elevations / moderate to strong southwest wind / alpine temperature -3 C / freezing level 1400 mTUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries / moderate southwest wind / alpine temperature -3 C / freezing level 1500 m WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / light east wind / alpine temperature -1 C / freezing level 1700 mTHURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / light east wind / alpine temperature -2 C / freezing level 1600 m

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity to report from Saturday or Sunday. On Friday natural loose wet activity to size 2 was reported throughout the region.

Snowpack Summary

The current snow surface is quite variable. On higher north aspects above 2000 m you may find some dry, faceted snow. Some of this has been redistributed by southwesterly and northerly winds which may have formed isolated old wind slabs. Expect to see a supportive crust on or near the surface if there is a good overnight freeze. The two crusts in the upper snowpack are our biggest concern. 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. The snowpack at mid and upper elevations is expected to continue to gain strength as we enter a period of consecutive nights with below freezing temperatures.

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