6:45 AM Update: Avoid alpine avalanche terrain and minimize overhead exposure; natural avalanches are expected with continued warm air temperatures, wind, and snow or rain.
Warm air temperature and rain or wet snow will likely increase reactivity in the recent storm snow. Avalanches may involve moist/wet/or dry snow depending on elevation and may step down to deeper buried weak layers.
Widespread natural activity may occur with snow and/or rain, strong winds, and warm air temperature. Storm snow is expected to be reactive to human triggering, and we expect touchy conditions to continue for several days.
Early season observations are limited. If you head into the backcountry, please post to the Mountain Information Network.
Surface conditions likely vary from heavily wind affected snow at higher elevations, to settling storm snow in sheltered areas. Warm temperatures have likely begun to affect the surface snow, creating moist or wet snow at treeline and below.
A crust from early November may be found in the mid to lower snowpack, with surface hoar and/or facets. The distribution and reactivity of this layer are not well understood. It is uncertain whether avalanches are failing on this layer.
Below the snowpack consists of melt freeze crusts, facets, and depth hoar in some areas. At treeline, snowpack depth ranges from 100 to 200 cm.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with around 5 cm of snow at higher elevations. 70+ km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures remain around 0 °C with an above freezing layer.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with up to 20 cm of snow possible for higher elevations, favouring the Pine Pass/Mackenzie Area. Wet snow or rain likely below 1300 m. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures remain around 0 °C.
Wednesday
Another 40 cm is possible overnight above 2000 m, wet snow or rain below. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures may reach +2 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures remain around 0 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
