South Rockies

Avalanche conditions are generally safe. Watch for small pockets of wind slabs in steep terrain near the mountain tops and remember that cornices are very large and fragile.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds with no precipitation, 10 km/h southeast wind, alpine temperature -7 C.

THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 2 to 10 cm, 10 km/h south wind, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level rising to 2000 m.

FRIDAY: Partly cloudy with no precipitation, 10 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature 0 C, overnight freeze and daytime freezing level rising to 2200 m.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy with no precipitation, 10 km/h northwest wind, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level rising to 2300 m.

No new avalanches were observed on Tuesday.

Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network to supplement our data stream and help fellow recreationists.

Around 5 to 10 cm of snow rests on hard snow or a melt-freeze crust, with locally thicker amounts in lee terrain from strong southwest wind. Below treeline, a moist and consolidated snowpack exists. Remember that cornices are large and looming at this time of year.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong, consisting of hard snow and various melt-freeze crusts.

• Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.
• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.