Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Thursday overnight: A building ridge of high pressure will bring mainly clear skies. Freezing levels will reach valley bottom, winds easing into the moderate range at ridgetop from the west.

Friday: Friday morning, a ridge of high pressure over the Rockies will bring clear skies and cold temperatures, and light to moderate westerly ridgetop winds. In the afternoon, high cloud will develop as another low-pressure system approaches from the pacific. Light flurries may develop late afternoon. 

Saturday: 5-10 cm of new snow can be expected overnight and into Saturday morning. Moderate to strong southwest winds are increasing and shifting northwest late in the day. 

Sunday: High pressure will reestablish. Mainly clear skies, light to moderate westerly ridgetop winds, and freezing levels at the valley bottom. 

On Thursday, Fernie Alpine Resort reported several loose wet avalanches size 1-1.5 from steep features. 

We have had very few reports in the area, if you head out please share your observations and/or photos on the Mountain Information Network! ?

Cold temperatures will form a capping rain crust on the snow surface as a result of heavy rain soaking the upper snowpack. In the high alpine (above 2400m) up to 50 cm of moist new snow accumulation is possible from Wednesday's storm. 

Previously, the mid-November rain crust could be found near the base of the snowpack. It is likely that rain has mainly broken-down this crust at treeline and below, and amalgamated the snowpack into uniform melt forms.

Snowpack depths range from 10-80 cm at treeline elevations. Higher elevations may hold a deeper snowpack, but will also be more heavily impacted by recent winds. Rain has washed away the snowpack below 1900m. 

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.