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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 10th, 2023–Mar 11th, 2023

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard.

Be cautious as you enter wind-affected terrain. Newly formed wind slabs are expected to bond poorly to the underlying crust.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, numerous size 1 loose dry avalanches were observed in the alpine. These avalanches were triggered by solar input during the day.

On Thursday, explosive control targeting cornices produced size 1-1.5 avalanches that did not pull slabs on the slopes below.

On Friday, fresh wind slab formation was observed as moderate to strong northeast wind redistributed the surface snow into immediate lees, as seen in this MIN report from the Fernie area.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of low-density new snow overlies wind affected surfaces in the alpine and a sun crust on solar slopes.

The mid-snowpack is generally well settled. The lower snowpack includes a layer of weak sugary crystals near the ground. These facets are slowly gaining strength and have not produced recent avalanche activity. We continue to track the layer and watch for any signs that it could wake up and produce very large avalanches.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Mainly cloudy with flurries, 2-8 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -13 °C. Ridge wind light from the northeast. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -5 °C. Ridge wind light from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 600 meters.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperature reach a high of -2 °C. Ridge wind 15 to 45 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 1300 meters.

Monday

Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 10-15 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 2 °C. Ridge wind 30 to 60 km/h from the southwest Freezing level rises to 1800 meters.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

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.