Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
The primary avalanche concerns are wind slabs in exposed terrain and cornices along ridgelines.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger slabs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Cornices are reported to be large and several cornice failures have recently been noted.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous small slab avalanches have been reported in the top 10-20 cm of snow all through this week. It appears as though moderate amounts of new snow with just the right amount of wind have continuously set up thin, but touchy wind slabs in a variety of places. While these have been mostly small (size 1), a size 2 wind slab avalanche was reported near Fernie on Wednesday morning on a northeast aspect at approximately 2000 m.
Snowpack Summary
20-30 cm storm snow sits above a variety of crusts on all but high north aspects. Wind has formed isolated slabs in lee features, and in some cases snow may be poorly bonded to the crusts.
There are some reports of a surface hoar layer roughly 80 cm deep on north aspects at treeline, but no recent avalanche activity on this layer. A layer of sugary facets around a crust exists near the bottom of the snowpack, but this layer has been inactive for some time.
Cornices are large along ridgetops and were actively failing last week.
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Around 5 cm new snow. Freezing level around 600 m. Moderate easterly to northeasterly winds.
Friday: Flurries. Freezing level around 600 m. Light easterly winds.
Saturday: 5-10 cm new snow. Freezing level around 700 m. Light easterly winds.
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Wind slabs have been a consistent feature for several days and will continue to be an issue in exposed terrain. Shifting winds means you should look out for wind slab on almost all aspects.