Kootenay Boundary

An intense storm with lots of snow and wind is incoming.

Avalanche danger will increase as the snow falls.

Moderate

• Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system.

A few small storm slabs were rider-triggered on Monday. They ran on the new crust that's just below the surface.

The incoming storm will likely drop significant snow onto a widespread rain crust from Monday. This crust extends above 2000 m, early reports are saying as high as 2400 m.

Below the surface crust, the mid-pack is likely moist and well settled.

A crust from mid-November is buried in the lower third of the snowpack and has sugary, facet crystals above it. This layer seems to be improving, but may remain in high alpine terrain.

Tuesday Night
Cloudy. 15 to 30 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Wednesday
Cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 10 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Friday
Mostly sunny. 2 to 3 cm of snow overnight. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
• Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
• Don't let storm day fever lure you into consequential terrain.