UPDATED 7:10
Avoid avalanche terrain.
Don't let storm day fever lure you into big terrain features.
Storm slabs will have formed on all aspects but you can expect them to be deeper and most reactive on lee northerly and easterly slopes near ridgetops.
New storm snow may overload a weak layer near the base of the snowpack creating very large avalanches.
On Saturday small but reactive storm slabs were observed in lee features near ridgetops in the Dogtooth Range
On Friday a few size 1 to 2 naturally triggered wind slabs were observed near Invermere on north and east-facing alpine slopes.
The likelihood of human-triggered avalanches is primed to increase throughout the stormy period and may remain elevated for several days.
Approximately 5 to 15 cm of new snow is expected to fall by the end of the day Monday. This new snow will add to previous storm snow totals of up to 35 cm in the Dogtooth Range, and around 5 to 15 cm in the rest of the region.
Combined, this snow will cover a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar, old wind-affected snow, and a crust.
In isolated, sheltered areas, an additional layer of surface hoar may be found buried 30 to 50 cm.
A widespread crust formed in early February is buried roughly 30 to 60 cm. This crust may be less prominent or not exist at high alpine elevations.
The mid and lower snowpack is largely faceted with depth hoar and a crust found at the bottom of the snowpack in many areas.
Sunday Night
Cloudy with 1 to 7 cm of new snow. 25 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature dropping to -10 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with 1 to 2 cm of new snow. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud with 1 cm of new snow. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 1 to 4 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
