Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 5th, 2018 4:38PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

mbender, Avalanche Canada

Lizard-Flathead.

Although the temperature is forecast to remain cool at upper elevations, when the sun does come out it can have an immediate impact on those slopes directly facing it.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: Mix of sun, cloud and isolated flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -5WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -5 THURSDAY: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -3

Avalanche Summary

Through the weekend avalanche activity included several natural and explosives controlled storm and wind slab avalanches size 1.5-2.5. These occurred on all aspects from tree line into the alpine. On Thursday and Friday, explosives control in the Fernie area produced loose dry and storm slab releases reaching from size 1.5 to 2.5 with some slabs reaching up to 80 cm in depth.

Snowpack Summary

Last weeks storms totaled 100cm of snow accumulation in parts of the region. This storm snow overlies various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and more isolated surface hoar. Also in the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 100 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects. Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.

Problems

Wind Slabs

With all the recent new snow available for transport, expect to see wind slabs on the down-wind side of terrain features.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices, which are large and fragile.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 6th, 2018 2:00PM