Avalanche forecast

Lizard-Flathead

Apr 12 – 13, 2018Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

When the sun comes out it will quickly weaken the new snow and cause loose wet avalanching on steep solar slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5
    New snow and strong winds have formed thin slabs in leeward areas near ridge crests and convex features. These slabs may be touchy were they sit on a recent crust.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Rising freezing levels and daytime warming have been triggers for recent large, loose, wet avalanches. Once moving, a loose, wet release may have the potential to trigger a slab on a deeper weak layer.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Strong southwesterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level rising to around 1800 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Moderate to strong southwesterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1900 m.SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Moderate southwesterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

A size 2.5 glide slab avalanche was reported near Fernie on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Moist snow up to ridge top elevations, with minimal overnight re-freeze. Below 1400 m, rain has soaked the snow surface.There are some reports of a surface hoar layer roughly 100 cm deep on north aspects at treeline, but no recent avalanche activity on this layer. Below this, the mid-pack is generally well settled and strong.A layer of sugary facets around a crust exists near the bottom of the snowpack, but this layer has been inactive for some time.

Regions covered