Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Akamina, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West, Flathead, Lizard, Lizard-Flathead, South Rockies.
The snowpack is generally stable, it may be a good time to explore more complex terrain.
Continue to use good travel habits and exercise caution on committing slopes
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
A few small, size 1, loose dry avalanches were reported out of steep headwalls in the Lizard Range on Friday. No recent slab avalanches have been reported.
With the current weather forecast and snowpack conditions, we foresee both natural and human-triggered avalanches to remain unlikely.
If you venture into the backcountry, please consider submitting your observations to the MIN.
Snowpack Summary
Widespread wind affect including sastrugi can be found in many open upper elevation areas. Lingering pockets of wind slab may exist on leeward slopes. Soft snow may still be found in shady, sheltered areas.
A thin layer of 2 to 5 cm of recent snow is covering a variety of surfaces. On slopes facing the sun, thin wind slabs may be covering a sun crust. In sheltered areas, you may find a few centimeters of soft snow covering facets or surface hoar.
The mid and lower snowpack is strong and bonded, with no current layers of concern. Treeline snow depths average 150 to 200 cm in the Lizard and Flathead areas, and around 60 to 100 cm elsewhere
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. 15 to 20 km/h northeast wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.
Monday
Sunny. 15 to 25 km/h northwest wind. Treeline temperature -19 °C.
Tuesday
Sunny. 30 to 50 km/h west wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
- Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.
- Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.
- The snowpack is generally stable; it may be appropriate to step out into more complex terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
In isolated places where there was enough new snow for the strong wind to form into slabs, human triggering may be possible.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5