If the forecasted low arrives early, the treeline and below treeline could reach considerable by the afternoon. Be locally aware to the changing conditions.
Summary
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Wednesday
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Expect cloudy skies with a chance of flurries. Winds should turn from northwest to west to southwest through the day and could reach 80 km/h. As the surface low approaches the freezing level may climb to 1500m and snowfall will build into the evening and overnight.Wednesday: Isolated heavy snowfalls are possible. The freezing levels may stay elevated until the passage of the low. Winds stay southwesterly 60-80km/h.Thursday: Expect precipitation to taper quickly as the low passes, giving a chance of sunny breaks in the afternoon. Winds turn to light northerlies and the freezing level should remain in the valley bottoms.
Avalanche Summary
Isolated sluffing continues up to 1.5.
Snowpack Summary
In isolated areas, up to 10cm of new snow has fallen. In areas with northerly winds, the new snow has been transported into small windslabs on south facing terrain (reverse loading).Lots of snow depth and surface condition variability exists in the region. Hard windslabs can still be found on North and East facing terrain due to previous moderate and strong South and West winds. The windward slope are hard pressed and in many locations scoured down to very shallow snow depths (or to rock!). In more sheltered areas, the cold nights have facetted the upper snowpack, leaving the surface snow soft. Surface hoar has grown in these sheltered locations as well. A sun crust has formed on steep South facing slopes. These interfaces are now slightly buried by the new storm snow.The mid pack is well settled and strong. This overlies one or two crusts (location specific) with the higher crust being as shallow as 70cm below the surface. Concern lingers (unlikely) for triggering a deep slab avalanche in a shallow snowpack area.
mpeter,
Avalanche Canada
