It's COLD!
If you choose to go out, think carefully about the consequences of an accident or equipment failure that could prevent you from moving to stay warm.
Bring extra clothing, and extra equipment (like a sleeping bag and stove), choose low-commitment terrain, and leave yourself extra time to get back to the car well before dark.
10 to 40cm of recent snow arrived with moderate to strong SW winds. This snow has formed storm slabs over the Dec 31 layer of surface hoar and sun crust and has been reported as being reactive over the last few days. Variable winds have redistributed snow in unusual directions (gap and outflow winds).
The base of the snowpack consists of weak facets and depth hoar, and there has been sporadic activity on this layer over the past week. Use caution in steep terrain or planar slopes where failures in these basal facets are more likely to propagate.
Avalanches 48-72 hours old in Kootenay and Highway 93N were seen Saturday. These were up to size 2.5 on multiple aspects, and some are suspected of sliding on Dec 31 surface hoar, with some stepping down in the alpine to deeper layers. Most were 30-40cm deep, with a few up to ~80cm which stepped down. These were observed from far away.
Some wind effect in open areas from variable winds as the cold air arrived. 20-40 cm of recent snow over the Dec 31 layer that is comprised of surface hoar in sheltered areas, and a spotty sun crust on steep solar slopes at treeline and above.
The mid-pack is supportive and contains two temperature/rain crusts from Dec 22nd and Dec 5th that reach as high as 2300 m.
The base of the snowpack consists of weak facets and depth hoar in most areas.
Treeline snow depths range from 80-130 cm.
Cold temperatures will remain for the next few days with overnight lows of -35 to -40C and highs of -25 to -30C with mainly light N/NW winds, clear, and no snow.
Tuesday may be slightly warmer, with afternoon temperatures a balmy -20C. There may also be a trace of new snow.
For more information, click Mountain Weather Forecast.
