Kootenay Boundary

A low avalanche hazard doesn't mean there are no avalanche hazards. Watch for wind-affected snow directly lee of ridges and high points and steer clear.

Several wet loose avalanches from steep south-facing slopes were skier triggered on Saturday.

Wind slabs are unlikely to be human-triggered. The most likely areas where wind slabs may linger are directly lee of high spots and ridge features.

Roughly 20 cm of new snow is dry and settled on north-facing slopes and becomes moist on solar-facing slopes, covering a melt-freeze crust on all aspects and elevations.

A second crust formed in late March can also be found in the upper snowpack at variable depths depending on aspect and elevation.

A persistent weak layer of facets sits atop a second buried crust down 80 to 180 cm. This layer is unlikely to be human-triggered in areas where a thick crust above the weak layer is present.

Sunday Night

Mainly cloudy, 15 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5° C.

Monday

Mostly clear skies, increasing cloud overnight with flurries 2 to 5 cm, 20 to 30 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature -3° C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy in the morning with scattered flurries tapering in the afternoon, 2 to 4 cm. 30 to 40 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature 0° C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy, 10 to 15 km/h wind, treeline temperature 0° C, freezing level 2000 to 2100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.