Avalanche Forecast

In the last 48 hours, there have been several size 1 to 2 avalanches that triggered naturally and with the use of ski cutting and explosives. These were in the alpine and on various aspects. These have all been reported in the Fernie area.

There have been few people reporting in the MIN, and therefore our observations of the backcountry are minimal. It is suspected that similar natural avalanches have occurred in our region due to similar wind conditions.

Lingering and stubborn wind slabs exist at upper elevations. A mixture of surface facets, surface hoar, and sun crust can be found on the surface.

Below the surface, cold temperatures have weakened and faceted the snowpack. A basal rain crust sits near the ground.

Total snowpack depths at the treeline are 40-70 cm and in the alpine 60-120 cm. Below treeline remains below the threshold.

Friday Night

Cloudy with clearing periods, 5 cm accumulation, west ridge winds light to 20 km/h gusting to 45, alpine low -3 C freezing level at valley bottom with a weak temperature inversion.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, ridge winds southwest 25 to 35 km/h gusting to 60km/h, alpine temperatures to -6 to -3 C freezing level to 800m in some places of the south.

A mix of sun and cloud, Cloudy, 10 cm accumulation, ridge winds 15 to 30 km/h west and gusting to 70 km/h, alpine temperatures -6 to -10 C with freezing level to near valley bottom.

Mainly cloudy, trace to 5 cm accumulation, northeast ridge winds 15 - 25 km/h, alpine temperature of -12 C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
• Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.