Continue practicing safe travel habits and group management.
Consider the consequences of a small avalanche or any fall before committing to large features.
This problem is most likely where weak sugary snow is starting to form over a melt freeze crust that was buried on February the 3rd. Avalanches on this layer could propagate wider and run farther than expected.
On Friday and Saturday near Fernie, a couple of small (size 1) rider-triggered wind slab avalanches were reported.
Alpine and open treeline terrain is generally wind-affected. In wind sheltered areas, 30 to 60 cm of settling snow sits on the 10-20 cm thick, strong, rain crust that formed to mountain tops in early February. Weak, sugary crystals (facets) are starting to form above this crust.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. No new snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -7 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. No new snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1200 m. Treeline high around -3 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 2-4 cm of snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1000 m. Treeline high around -3 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5-10 cm of snow expected above 1200 m, possibly less on the eastern edge of the forecast area. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
