South Rockies

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Wednesday night and Thursday: An upper ridge persists on the region bringing dry conditions, moderate to strong winds from the W and an inversion dissipating in the afternoon bringing temperatures above the freezing level between 2000 m. and 2500 m. Friday: Traces of snow are forecasted with moderate winds from the W and dropping freezing levels to 300 m. Saturday: Similar conditions are expected with lighter winds from the SW and slightly warmer temperatures than the day before (around -7 C in the alpine).

No new recent observations.

Surface layers (windslabs in alpine lee areas, cornices and loose snow in sheltered areas) may become weak with solar radiation and forecast warming temperatures. A generally settled upper snowpack overlies two or more buried crusts. The December crust is found 70-140 cm below the surface and the November crust/facet layer is near the base of the snowpack. Recent snowpack tests have shown little reactivity on these layers, apart from in the Flathead Range near Fernie, where there is a lingering possibility of triggering a deep avalanche in specific thin, rocky snowpack areas. Check out the forecaster’s blog for more discussion on this.