Lizard

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Rain falling on dry snow for the first time will rapidly raise the avalanche hazard.

Small (size 1) skier-controlled avalanches were reported near Fernie today.

Small and large (size 2) storm slab avalanches have continued to occur this week near Fernie, both naturally and with explosives, as recently as Friday.

Expect surface snow to become moist and wet with incoming warm temperatures and precipitation.

Roughly 40 to 50 cm of snow from the past week sits over various old surfaces. In some areas, it is slow to bond due to sugary facets.

Near the bottom of the snowpack, there are a series of crusts and facets that are more prominent in shallow areas.

Saturday Night

Cloudy with a trace of snow or rain, southwest alpine wind 40 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow or rain, southwest alpine wind 50 to 80 km/h, treeline temperature 2 °C, freezing level 2500 m.

Monday

Cloudy with a trace of snow or rain, southwest alpine wind 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature 3 °C, freezing level 3000 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud with no snow, southwest alpine wind 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature 2 °C, freezing level dropping to 2250 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
• The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
• Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy rain.