Avoid avalanche terrain and exposure to overhead avalanche terrain.
Heavy rain and high freezing levels will continue to create very dangerous conditions.
Rising freezing levels and rain are continuing to soak the upper snowpack. Wet loose avalanches have the potential to entrain lots of wet, heavy snow, especially at lower elevations, where the snow pack is moist to the ground.
Old wind slabs found deep in terrain features and in sheltered terrain are continuing to weaken with expected rain. Expect them to become increasingly reactive during this period of extensive warming.
On Thursday, in the neighboring Fernie region, numerous very large debris (up to size 3) were reported, indicating a widespread natural avalanche cycle.
On Wednesday, multiple wet loose avalanches were observed near Window Mountain in steep treeline and alpine features on all aspects.
Looking ahead, natural avalanches are expected at all elevations during the ongoing warm storm, particularly in areas where avalanche paths have not yet released.
High freezing levels and heavy rain are continuing to soak the upper snowpack up to the mountain tops.
A crust layer can be found down 30 to 50 cm on lee features and on the surface in windward terrain.
Below this, the mid and lower snowpack are generally well consolidated with early-season crusts deep in the snowpack.
The snowpack rapidly diminishes at lower elevations and is moist to the ground in shallower areas.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 mm of rain at treeline. 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.
Friday
Cloudy. 15 to 20 mm of rain at treeline. 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 mm of rain or snow at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
