Kootenay Boundary

Moderate to heavy precipitation combined with rising temps and high winds will drive the danger ratings for the next few days.

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Friday: 10 to 15 cm at upper elevations on Friday . Moderate to strong westerly winds for the day. Freezing levels are forecast to rise to 1000 m.Saturday: Increased precipitation, with up to 20 cm as a Pacific frontal system moves through the area. Freezing levels may rise to 1300 meters during the storm with strong SW winds.Sunday: Freezing level returns to 700 M in the wake of the Pacific frontal system, leaving another 10 cm in the forecast area. Strong winds persist.

Surface sluffing only in recent reports.

Moderate to heavy amounts of snow forecast for the weekend with strong SW winds will create wind slabs at tree line and above. Sluffing may occur in steep terrain and could easily run on surface hoar in sheltered alpine areas and below treeline. This surface hoar layer is sitting on a sun crust on S facing aspects in some locations. The persistent weak layers (PWL) are a concern to avalanche professionals as they have been producing sudden planar results and show good propagation potential when tested. The end of November facet/crust or surface hoar layer down 80 cm (or 40 cm where snowpack is very thin) and the depth hoar or basal facetting are the most worrisome layers. Presently, they do not seem reactive to skier triggering but this situation may change with additional loading from the incoming storm, rising temperatures, and strong wind.