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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 8th, 2023–Apr 9th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Moyie.

Continually observe your local conditions and let that guide your terrain choices.

You may encounter different avalanche problems as you change elevation or aspect, and dynamic spring weather has resulted in variable snowpack conditions across the forecast area.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday in the Fernie area, explosives avalanche control triggered several small (size 1-1.5) dry loose and storm slab avalanches in alpine terrain and treeline terrain. The lower elevation avalanches entrained loose wet snow as they travelled down the slope.

Other recent reports of avalanche activity have been limited to small (size 1) loose snow avalanches in steep, alpine features.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

In the Fernie area, 5-15 cm of new snow sits on the surface. In general, dry snow remains on shaded (northerly) slopes, and moist snow or thin crusts on solar aspects. Below treeline, expect to find moist snow or a surface crust on all aspects.

The mid-snowpack is generally well-settled.

The lower snowpack includes a layer of weak sugary crystals near the ground. This layer has not produced recent avalanche activity in this area, but professionals continue to monitor for signs of it becoming active.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Starting clear, ending cloudy. No new snow/rain expected. Freezing level around 1700 m. Moderate southwest ridgetop winds, trending to strong at higher elevations.

Sunday

Sunny morning, cloudy afternoon. No new snow/rain expected. Freezing level rising to 2400 m. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind, trending to strong at higher elevations.

Monday

Cloudy. 20-30 mm of rain around the Fernie area, 10-20 mm elsewhere. Snow line starts the day at 2000m and rises to 2500. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind, trending to extreme at high elevations.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. Rain continues overnight, 5-15 mm, 20-30 mm around Fernie. Snow line falls to 1500 m in the morning, and 1000 m by the end of the day, resulting 5 cm of snow. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.