Up to 30 cm of new snow may be seen by Friday afternoon. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
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Reactive storm slabs will build through the day. Northeast aspects will likely see deeper slabs with wind loading.
Dry loose avalanches are likely from steep terrain features.
No new avalanches were reported on Wednesday.
Natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely on Friday and through the weekend.
15 to 30 cm of snow is forecast by Friday afternoon. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to the old snow surfaces. These consist of a thick melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes, large surface hoar and/or facets on shaded slopes, and wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain.
The upper snowpack may contain one or more layers of surface hoar buried sometime in January. These layers are not currently a problem but may wake up with the upcoming storm loading.
The mid and lower snowpack remains generally well-settled and strong, with no current concerns or significant instability noted.
Thursday Night
Cloudy with snow 5 to 10 cm. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with snow 10 to 25 cm with enhanced amounts near Kootenay Pass. 15 gusting to 45 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Saturday
New snow 5 to 10 cm. 15 gusting to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with flurries. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
