Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Wind and snowfall will drive avalanche hazard at higher elevations. At lower elevations, early season hazards may hide under new snow.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Snow, accumulation 5-15 cm, light to moderate south west wind with strong gusts, freezing level valley bottomWEDNESDAY: Cloudy with flurries, trace accumulation, moderate west wind with strong gusts, freezing level below 1000 mTHURSDAY: Snow, accumulation 5-15 cm, moderate with strong gusts south southwest wind, freezing level 1000 mFRIDAY: Cloudy with flurries, accumulation up to 10 cm, moderate south wind with strong gusts, freezing level rising above 1300 m
Avalanche Summary
Small (size 1) storm slabs are reacting to skier traffic.Big thanks go out to our contributors to the Mountain Information Network. Please continue to post your observations here.
Snowpack Summary
10-25 cm new snow has fallen around the region, with more forecasted to fall through the week. The new snow has buried a weak variable layer of surface hoar, facets and rain crust and covers 20-30 cm low density facets. Below the facets, a stacked pair of persistent weak layers is buried 40-90 cm down. The upper layer consists of surface hoar (feathery crystals) in most places, but may present as a sun crust on steep south facing slopes. The deeper layer features surface hoar above a widespread temperature crust. Both layers are thought to be widespread at treeline and may also extend into sheltered alpine terrain. These layers are trending towards dormancy, but may remain problematic on steep solar aspects.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.