Kootenay Boundary

Extra Caution required in alpine and open treeline features.

Several skier triggered storm slab avalanches to size 2 were reported on Thursday. These were primarily triggered in lee features at treeline. One natural storm slab size 1.5 was observed on an east aspect at 2000m.

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

5-10cm of snow with moderate southwesterly winds on Friday night. No snow forecasted for rest of forecast period. Freezing levels rise sharply on Monday to 3000+m.

5cm of new snow brings the storm slab to 35-45 cm and can be found across most of the region. This new snow lies above a variable old surface buried at the end of January. This interface is being reported as a layer of surface hoar at treeline in the Rossland area. However, in most other parts of the region the new snow sits on a rain crust and/or old wind slabs. A weak layer buried mid-January can be found down 45-50cm, however, snow pit tests indicate that this layer is gaining strength. Deeper in the snowpack, the persistent weak layer that was buried earlier in January is now down 80-120 cm and continues to give sudden planar fractures in snowpack tests under moderate to heavy loads.