Winter continues with another round of new snow - watch for reactive storm slabs at all elevations.
Stick to conservative terrain and minimize your exposure during heavy snow or wind.
Storm slabs will build over the day as snowfall totals increase. Expect reactivity as storm snow falls on a variety of surfaces including a crust on south facing slopes. Lower elevations may see rain or mixed precipitation.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, with snow beginning overnight. 5-20 cm is expected by morning. Strong south/south easterly winds. Freezing levels fall to 500 m.
MONDAY: Snow continues with 10-30 cm expected, favouring western terrain, freezing levels reach 1300 m. Strong southeast winds ease over the day.
TUESDAY: Cloudy up to 5 cm of snow over the day. Freezing levels reach 1000 m. Moderate southerly winds.
WEDNESDAY: Clearing skies with no snowfall expected. Moderate southeast winds. Freezing levels rise to 1300 m.
No new avalanches have been reported. Periods of strong sunshine in many areas have produced pinwheeling and small point releases this week.
Observations are limited at this time of year, so please consider posting to the Mountain Information Network.
10-55 cm of storm snow is expected by Monday afternoon. This will likely form reactive storm slabs at all elevations above the freezing level. Deeper deposits are expected in west and north facing terrain features at higher elevations, as strong south-southeast winds are forecast.
Several thin crusts exist on south facing slopes from recent sunshine, and a widespread and supportive crust is now buried 30-80 cm deep. Reports suggest these crusts are currently bonding well with the layers around it.
The mid and lower snowpack is considered strong at this time, consisting of hard snow and melt freeze crusts.
