Continuing snowfall is expected to maintain dangerous avalanche conditions for Wednesday. Remember that potential for human triggered avalanches will persist as the storm eases.
Snowfall continuing through Tuesday night will bring another day of active avalanche conditions on Wednesday. Touchy storm slabs are widespread and will be primed for human triggering on steeper slopes and especially in wind-affected areas.
Tuesday night: Continuing snowfall bringing 15-25 cm of new snow. Moderate southwest winds.
Wednesday: Cloudy with continuing scattered flurries bringing 5-10 cm and new snow totals to 35-55 cm. Moderate southwest winds. Alpine temperatures around -3 with freezing levels near 1200 m.
Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light northwest winds. Alpine temperatures around -13.
Friday: Mainly cloudy. Moderate to strong southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -10.
Initial reports of avalanche activity in the Fernie area on Tuesday showed numerous storm slabs releasing naturally as well as with remote triggers from skier traffic, and with explosives. Avalanches generally ranged from size 1 (small) to size 2.5 (large). The bulk of this activity was observed on north to east aspects.
Looking forward, snowfall continuing over Tuesday night is expected to maintain similarly active avalanche conditions for Wednesday.
Continuing snowfall is expected to bring new snow accumulations to 30-50 cm by Wednesday morning. The new snow has buried recent widespread wind affected snow that extended well below tree line. Recent Cornice growth in the alpine has been notable.
Several crusts layers have formed in the mid to upper snowpack as a result of recent warming and rain events. As these crusts become buried deeper, they have the potential to turn into a persistent slab problem. We'll be keeping an eye on them going forward.
The lower snowpack consists of weak faceted snow and decomposing crusts but has not been an active avalanche problem recently.
