Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Apr 20 – 21, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Rain soaked wet slabs releasing on hard crusts remain possible until temperatures cool.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    If temperatures remain warm, loose wet avalanches are still possible with strong solar radiation.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    If temperatures remain warm, wet slabs releasing on crust layers are still possible.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Friday. However, it is likely that numerous natural loose wet avalanches occurred during the storm on Friday at treeline and above.

On Tuesday, a party skiing near Kootenay Pass reported "whumphing" on solar aspects near ridgetops and triggered a size 2 storm slab avalanche sitting on a crust on a north aspect at around 2000 m. See the MIN report HERE.

Snowpack Summary

Rain to mountain-tops Thursday night has soaked 20-40 cm of recent snow and initiated a loose wet avalanche cycle at treeline and above.

Below treeline, the snow is disappearing rapidly.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Clear / Light, northerly winds / Alpine low -1 C / Freezing level 2100 m.

SUNDAY: Sunny / Light, northwesterly winds / Alpine high 7 C / Freezing level 2500 m.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 7 C / Freezing level 2500 m.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with alpine flurries; 2-5 mm. / Moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 4 C / Freezing level 2400 m.

Regions covered