A bit of new snow has improved our skiing and riding conditions while giving forecast winds material to form new hazards. Keep an eye out for fresh wind slabs formed (or forming) on leeward slopes as you approach exposed terrain on Sunday.
A bit more recent snow than expected has likely formed new wind slabs to manage in leeward terrain at upper elevations. Forecast light snow and high elevation winds should keep the possibility for this problem at top of mind as you reach exposed terrain.
Saturday night: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries bringing less than 5 cm of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds, initially strong in the alpine.
Sunday: Cloudy with scattered flurries and up to 5 cm of new snow, continuing overnight. Light to moderate southwest winds, increasing over the day and becoming strong in the alpine. Alpine high temperatures around -5 with freezing levels to 1500 metres.
Monday: Cloudy with easing flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.
Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light southwest winds, becoming strong in the alpine overnight. Alpine high temperatures around -5.
A bit more snow than was forecast was observed producing small natural dry loose releases from steep alpine terrain in the Fernie area on Saturday. With the addition of forecast light flurries, increasing winds will likely use this material to form small but reactive wind slabs in exposed terrain through the day on Sunday.
A large (size 2) glide slab occurred overnight and was observed on Friday morning on a lower elevation slope on Mt. Fernie. It may have been coaxed into action by overnight rainfall. This serves as a great reminder to avoid slopes with glide cracks on them at all times. They are inherently unstable and can release at any time.
Up to 15 cm of new snow accumulated over wind affected surfaces at higher elevations over Friday night and Saturday and over a mix of refrozen or still wet snow at treeline and lower. Forecast light flurries will add a bit more dry snow to this mix at all but low elevations in the coming days.
Around 30 to 50 cm of snow sits above a layer of sugary faceted grains that were buried in mid-February. In some areas, there may be an old layer of feathery surface hoar or facets from late January down 50 to 80 cm deep. There have been no reported avalanches on either of these layers in the region in the last 10 days. Cool temperatures are expected to further decrease their likelihood of producing avalanches.
