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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2023–Mar 17th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard.

Wind slabs at upper elevations are the main concern. Minimize your exposure to steep slopes facing the sun during the hottest part of the day. (Avalanche summary updated on Friday at 7:10 AM).

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Several large natural slab avalanches were reported near Fernie on Thursday. The group observed the avalanches release when the sun hit open alpine slopes.

On Tuesday, a widespread natural storm slab avalanche cycle to size 2.5 was observed throughout the region. Many of these avalanches are suspected to have released during the storm on Monday night.

Explosive control produced numerous storm slab avalanches to size 1.5-2.5.

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

20-40 cm of dense, wind-affected storm snow falling earlier in the week in the alpine tapers to a rain crust below 1400 m. This storm snow may sit on a sun crust on solar slopes and small surface hoar in sheltered, shaded areas.

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.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with clear periods. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Wind light southwest.

Friday

Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Wind light south. Freezing level rising to 1500 meters.

Saturday

Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Wind light south. Freezing level rising to 1700 meters.

Sunday

Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 1600meters.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.