Avalanche Forecast

A wind slab avalanche was reported in this great MIN from Fish Bowl near Fernie on February 15th.

Other small wind slab and dry loose avalanches have been reported in the area over the last 48hrs.

Small amounts of recent new snow has been redistributed by southwest winds into either wind slabs or wind pressed surfaces. In addition, a sun crust has formed on steep solar aspects all the way up to low alpine elevations. Given this, quality riding can still be found in sheltered terrain.

The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated and sits on a thick crust. The bottom of the snowpack still consists of weak, sugary crystals that are slowly gaining strength in areas with a deeper snowpack.

Cornices continue to grow with the wind.

Deep persistent slab avalanches should still be on your radar in areas outside of the Lizard Range such as the Bull River, Elkford, and the Flathead.

Thursday night

Increasing cloudiness through the night. Flurries delivering 2-4 cm of snow. Wind from the southwest 20 km/h. Temperature -4˚C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 5 cm of new snow. Wind from the southwest at 15 km/h. Temperature -4˚C.

Cloudy. 5 - 10 cm of new snow. Wind from the southwest 15 km/h in the morning becoming north at 10 km/h in the afternoon. Temperature -5˚C to -2˚C.

A mix of sun and clouds as a short lived ridge sweeps through. Winds from the southwest at 10 km/h. Temperature -8˚C in the morning rising to -2˚C in the afternoon.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
• Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.