Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Flathead, Lizard, Lizard-Flathead.
Avalanche danger is expected to increase throughout the day as the sun will change the snow surface rapidly.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Wet and dry loose avalanches continued to be skier-triggered in the region. These avalanches have occurred in steep terrain on a variety of aspects and elevations.
Storm slabs (up to size 1.5) were naturally triggered and controlled by explosives around Fernie.
Expect increasing avalanche activity within the recent snow with the forecasted warm weather.
Snowpack Summary
A spring diurnal cycle occurred up to 2000 m. The surface is either moist or capped with a thin crust on all aspects and elevations except for high northerly slopes where up to 15 cm of settled snow overlies a thick and supportive crust from late March.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Clear. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level around 1300 m with temperature inversion.
Sunday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +8 °C. Freezing level around 3000 m.
Monday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 mm of rain. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level lowering to 2500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of wet snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level around 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards.
- Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
As surfaces become wet, loose wet avalanches will become more likely on steep slopes at all elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Cornices
As temperatures rise, large cornice falls will become a concern. Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards during the warmest part of the day.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5