Watch for changing conditions throughout the day. New snow is expected to bond poorly to the underlying surface.
New snow is expected to bond poorly to the underlying surface, creating small but reactive dry loose avalanches. In isolated areas that receive greater than 15 cm of new snow, it is possible that a storm slab problem may exist in steep terrain.
Over the past few days, several natural and human-triggered size 1-2 loose wet avalanches were observed from steep terrain on solar aspects.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Up to 15 cm of new snow may accumulate at upper elevations by end of day Friday. This new snow overlies a sun crust on solar aspects, surface hoar up or facets in shady and wind-sheltered areas, and wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain.
The top layer of the snowpack at higher elevations is made up of 20 to 40 cm of dense, wind-affected snow. It tapers to a rain crust below 1400 m. This Top layer of 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.
Thursday night
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -4 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 30 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday
Cloudy with flurries, trace to 10 cm accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -3 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 30 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 1300 metres.
Saturday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -1 °C. Ridge wind light from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 1500 metres.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -3 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 30 km/h from the east. Freezing level rises to 1300 metres.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
