Minimize exposure to steep slopes as temperatures warm through the day, especially in areas with fresh snow.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT - Mostly clear / light south wind / alpine low temperature near -2 / weak temperature inversionWEDNESDAY - Cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 10 cm accumulation / southwest wind, 15-25 gusting to 50 km/h / alpine high temperature near +1 / freezing level 1900 m THURSDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation / southwest wind, 15-25 gusting to 55 km/h / alpine high temperature near +1 / freezing level 2000 m FRIDAY - Scattered flurries, 5-10 cm accumulation / southwest wind, 25 gusting to 55 km/h / alpine high temperature near +3 / freezing level 2100 m
Avalanche Summary
If the sun comes out for prolonged periods of time, the chances of loose avalanches will increase, especially in areas with fresh snow.Last Wednesday, there were reports of a few size 1 loose wet avalanches in the Fernie area.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack on sun exposed slopes in the alpine and all aspects at treeline and below may become moist or wet during the heat of the day, especially if the sun comes out. With spring conditions, the avalanche hazard will fluctuate greatly depending on the strength of the overnight freeze and how quickly the snowpack is warmed up each day.Steep, north facing alpine terrain, still holds a cold, dry snowpack where well settled slab sits over weak facets (sugary snow). Human triggering of persistent slabs on this layer may still be possible; especially in rocky alpine terrain with a shallow or highly variable depth snowpack.
Problems
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.