Strong winds may build wind slabs in more sheltered areas where surface hoar and faceted snow have been buried. Keep an eye out for snow that feels dense or stiff.
The base of our thin snowpack is weak and faceted. Steep pockets of deeper, wind-loaded snow are the most likely to break away from this weak base under the weight of a person or machine.
On Friday, several skier-triggered dry loose avalanches in steep north-facing terrain were reported near Invermere.
Observations are limited this time of year. Please consider filling out a MIN report if you head out in the backcountry!
3 to 5 cm of new snow has buried various surfaces; surface hoar in sheltered terrain, heavily wind-affected in open alpine, melt-freeze crusts on steep solar aspects, and faceted soft snow.
A crust with facets or depth hoar exists at or near the ground. The snowpack is shallower than average for this time of year, with depths at treeline ranging from 20 -50 cm and tapers rapidly below.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with scattered flurries, trace to 3 cm accumulations. Southwest alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with flurries, 3 to 8 cm accumulation. Southwest alpine wind increases throughout the day 25 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -7 °C.
Monday
Partly cloudy, scattered flurries, trace accumulations. Southwest alpine winds 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperatures -5 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy mixed precipitation, 10 to 20 cm accumulation of snow switching to rain. Southwest alpine winds 30 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
