Kootenay Boundary

Triggering an avalanche is still possible in wind loaded terrain or areas where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.

• Saturday: One small (size 1) wind slab on an east aspect in the alpine was reported.

• Friday: Numerous large ( size 2 to 2.5) avalanches were produced during explosives control in the region. in the alpine and at treeline on many aspects. A few small (size 1) naturals continue to be reported on east aspects.

• Thursday: Reports of a few rider and remote triggered avalanches (size 1 to 2) on east aspects and north east aspects at all elevations.

A dusting snow in the region covers 30 to 55 cm of low density snow which is settling over a layer of surface hoar buried at the end of January.

On Friday a thin crust formed on the surface on aspects exposed to the sun.

In some parts of the region, alpine and treeline wind has formed deeper, denser deposits of snow in leeward terrain, and potentially scoured some windward ridgetops.

The buried surface hoar has been reported to be as large as 20 mm. On shaded slopes it's sitting on 10 to 20 cm of loose, sugary facets, but on sunny slopes it's sitting on a thin, hard crust.

The lower snowpack is strong and bonded.

Sunday Night

Clear. 10 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -21 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Wednesday

Sunny. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
• Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.