Avalanche Forecast

High -

FRIDAY NIGHT - Cold, a few clouds / light north east wind / low near -26

SATURDAY - A few clouds / moderate north east wind, some uncertainty about potential for localized moderate wind / alpine high temperature near -20

SUNDAY - Overcast / light south west wind/ highs near -18

MONDAY - Overcast / trace of new snow / light south west wind / high near -12

Despite the stagnant weather there has been in increase in activity on the persistent weak layer. On Thursday and Friday there were human triggered avalanches up to size 2 reported in the Lizard Range on the late January surface hoar layer. One was triggered remotely from 50 m away.

On Wednesday there was a size 1.5 skier triggered avalanche that failed on the late January surface hoar/facet layer. It was on a south east facing slope in the Tunnel Creek area. See MIN

On Tuesday there were a couple of smaller skier triggered avalanches, but of note was a remote triggered size 2 on Mt. Fernie (suspected surface hoar). Also on Tuesday, explosive control yielded wind slab avalanche results up to size 2.

February has been a busy one for avalanche activity with human triggered avalanches going back over a week that are too numerous to list. Do some research and check out the MIN reports in our region, click here.

Many thanks to the community for sharing information through the Mountain Information Network!

Recent northerly and shifting winds have reverse loaded features; slabs may be found in open terrain on a variety of aspects. Surface faceting and surface hoar growth is occurring with clear nights and frigid temperatures.

A persistent weak layer lurks 30-70 cm below the surface. In some places it consists of surface hoar, in other places just facets, or crust/facet combinations. This weak interface has been responsible for the majority of recent avalanches. Reports suggest the surface hoar interface at treeline is the biggest repeat offender, and things have been most reactive on northerly and easterly aspects, but don't let your guard down elsewhere.

Below 1600 m a hard melt-freeze crust is underneath 20-40 cm recent snow. A solid mid-pack sits above a deeply buried crust and facet layers near the bottom of the snowpack (150-200 cm deep), which is currently unreactive. 

• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
• Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
• Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.