South Rockies

Colder temperatures have improved conditions within the upper snowpack, however lingering deep persistent instabilities remain a concern in isolated areas.

Good - Due to the quality of field observations

Freezing levels are expected to drop to valley bottoms tonight and light accumulations of 2-5cm are likely to fall early Saturday morning. Saturday is expected to be overcast with moderate variable winds and a high around -9 at treeline. Sunday should remain overcast with the possibility of very light accumulations. Monday we may see another system bring 5-10cm of snow and warmer temperatures.

No new avalanches have been reported. On Wednesday a size 2 avalanche was accidentally triggered on an east aspect in the alpine by a sledder near Racehorse Pass (Crowsnest) on the December PWL.

Recent warm sunny conditions and high freezing levels have created a melt freeze cycle in the upper levels of the snowpack. These warm conditions have decimated the lower elevation snowpack and the threshold for avalanches has risen to approximately 1600m, potentially higher on solar aspects. In most areas of the region, a new crust has formed on the surface of the snowpack up to 1800m and up to all elevations on solar aspects. The mid-December crust/facet/surface hoar layer is down 40-80cm and remains reactive in isolated areas, especially where a slab of stiffer snow has consolidated above it. This layer has proven easier to trigger from shallow and rocky areas in the alpine and treeline.