Low-density storm snow will accumulate throughout the day. Use caution in leeward terrain features where wind-affected snow may be more cohesive and reactive to human triggering.
As storm snow accumulates through the day watch for signs of instability, such as cracking and recent avalanches, increasing. Be especially cautious in leeward terrain where southwest winds may be developing more cohesive slabs.
On Monday, several size 2 wind slab avalanches were observed in cross-loaded features below treeline. These avalanches are suspected to be +48 hours old. See the South Rockies Feild Team MIN report for a good visual representation of this problem.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
New snow is accumulating over faceted surfaces in many areas and wind-affected surfaces in open areas at all elevations. A weak layer of facets above a melt-freeze crust is found down 60 to 100 cm.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well bonded with a series of crusts and facetted snow.
The average snow depth at treeline is approximately 100 to 180 cm.
Tuesday Night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 to 10 cm of low-density snow, westerly alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -15 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with scattered flurries, 10 cm of snow across the region, local hot spots may see up to 20 cm of low-density snow, southwest switching to northeast alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -18 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with no new precipitation, northeast alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -20 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
