Kootenay Boundary

This bulletin was created using very limited field data. Significant variation in snowpack structure is likely to exist across the region. If you are out in the mountains, please send your observations to [email protected]

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

An upper ridge of high pressure dominates until Tuesday resulting in dry conditions, light alpine winds, and mostly sunny conditions. A temperature inversion exists over most of the Kootenay-Boundary region with a layer of warm air sitting at mountain-top elevation. On Wednesday a weak upper trough will replace the high pressure system causing increased cloud cover and  the possibility of light snowfall.

We have received limited reports of pin-wheeling and small loose snow avalanches releasing on steep, sunny aspects during afternoon warming.

80-110cm of snow is typical at treeline although observations are limited and this amount may vary across the region. Roughly 60 to 70cm of well settled storm snow is now sitting on the October crust located just above the ground. Little is known about the reactivity of this crust; however, limited reports suggest that the crust interface is well bondedThe current temperature inversion is causing the snow surface to melt in the alpine. Sun exposed slopes are undergoing daily melt-freeze cycles. A surface crust is also being reported below 1700m. Large SH is forming on all aspects but is melting on south aspects during the daytime warming. If you are traveling in the mountains, now is a good time to make note of these surface conditions which may become persistent weak layers once buried by new snow.