South Rockies

Forecast snow, wind and rising temperatures are driving the danger rating to HIGH.

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Friday: Snow amounts 10-20cm by Friday afternoon. Ridgetop winds moderate from the SW. Alpine temperatures near -4 and freezing levels rising to 1500 m by the afternoon. Saturday: Snow amounts 5-10 cm. Confidence remains low in actual snow amounts and timing. Rigetop winds gusting to 75 km/hr from the SW. Alpine temperatures near -5 and freezing levels 1300 m. Sunday: Unsettled conditions continue with snow 5-10 cm. Ridgetop winds generally light from the SW and freezing levels falling to 1000 m.

On Thursday, a size 2.5 deep persistent slab avalanche was reported from the Elkford- North riding. It looked to be 24 hrs old and likely failed earlier in the storm. It did fail within the basal facets and scrubbed down to rocks. Widespread loose dry avalanches were also noted from steep terrain features up to size 1.5. Natural avalanche activity will likely continue with warming temperatures, forecast snow and strong winds.

Another 17 cm of low density storm snow arrived overnight bringing the recent snow totals up to 67 cm in the past week. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to previous old snow surfaces that consist of stiff wind slabs, crusts and facets. Strong southwesterly winds is redistributing the new snow onto leeward slopes, building thicker and stiffer slabs. The mid-pack in this region is generally well settled and strong, but the bottom third of the snowpack is composed of weak facets (sugary snow crystals). Approximately 100-120 cm of settled snow sits above the weak layer of sugary, rotten facets that developed mid- December. This remains a concern and should be on your radar especially when change is happening to the snowpack.