Snowfall amounts may vary greatly over a short distance.
Avoid slopes that have been loaded by the wind.
Wind slabs may have formed on Wednesday. Common trigger areas, like downslope of ridges and ribs, should be avoided if wind transport is observed.
Facets have developed over a crust formed after the atmospheric river. This layer is now buried 50 to 70 cm deep and has been reactive in snowpack tests. Wind slab avalanches may be enough to trigger this layer.
Small dry loose and wet loose avalanches continued on Tuesday.
New snow likely buries a crust formed on south aspects from strong sun on Tuesday; no new crust is expected on shaded slopes.
A crust formed after the atmospheric river in early March is down 50 to 70 cm, and facets have been observed over the crust. This layer has been reactive in snowpack tests in the Crowsnest Pass.
Below this, the snowpack is generally well consolidated with facets at the base of the snowpack in shallow areas near Elkford.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy. 1 to 10 cm of snow, highest amounts near Castle. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
