Warm temperatures overnight may prevent a good re-freeze. Check for 'crust recovery' and be off slopes before they turn mushy or wet.
Warm air and sun can pack a punch, causing loose wet avalanches that may entrain recent snow and travel far. With warm springtime temperatures, check for good overnight recovery - avoid slopes that do not get an overnight re-freeze.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear with incoming cloud, 15-25 km/h south wind, ridgetop low temperature 0 C. Poor overnight re-freeze expected with freezing level hovering above 2300 m.
MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 20-40 km/h south wind, ridgetop high temperature +4 C, freezing level above 2300 m.
TUESDAY: Wet flurries, 10-15 mm. 15-25 km southwest wind, ridgetop high temperature +1 C, daytime freezing level below 1700 m.
WEDNESDAY: Overnight flurries, 5-15 cm. West wind gusting to 60 km/h, alpine high temperature -1 C, daytime freezing level 1700 m.
Small (size 1) wet loose avalanches were observed around Kootenay Pass on Friday.
Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network to supplement our data stream and help fellow recreationists.
The snowpack has transitioned to spring-time conditions, with overnight crusts transitioning to moist snow during the day, and isolated and lingering winter-ish conditions at the highest shaded elevations. Overall the snowpack is strong, consisting of hard snow and various melt-freeze crusts. At ridge top, remember that cornices are large and looming. With warm springtime temperatures, check for good overnight recovery - avoid slopes that do not get an overnight re-freeze.
