Low-density storm snow will accumulate throughout the day. Use caution in leeward terrain features where wind-affected snow may be more cohesive and reactive to human triggering.
As storm snow accumulates through the day watch for signs of instability, such as cracking and recent avalanches, increasing. Be especially cautious in leeward terrain where southwest winds may be developing more cohesive slabs.
On Tuesday, a few natural wind slab avalanches were reported up to size 2.5 in the Elkford area. These avalanches were likely triggered by northerly winds in the past 48 hours.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
New snow is accumulating over faceted surfaces and in open areas, wind-affected surfaces. Previously northerly winds had built wind slabs in leeward terrain at all elevations. At treeline and below is a weak layer of facets over a crust, down 40 to 80 cm. This layer was reactive to skier triggering primarily on east aspects between 1500 and 2000 m last week.
The mid and lower snowpack contains a series of crusts and facetted snow.
The height of snow at treeline is roughly 80 to 150 cm.
Tuesday Night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 to 10 cm of snow, westerly alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -16 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with scattered flurries, 10 to 15 cm of snow, southwest switching to northeast alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -20 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with no new precipitation, northeast alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -22 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
