It seems that the extended spring Monsoon is at least temporarily easing up. Hopefully the next couple of forecasted clear nights will give us some good overnight freezes and the sunny days will dry off the alpine rock and ridges in places.
In case you hadn’t noticed it has been the summer of temperamental weather so far, and is currently slashing rain in Banff as I write.
Looks like the weekend could bring a short reprieve to this monsoonal weather we have been experiencing. Rogers Pass area is looking the driest, maybe... the bow valley will have a mix of everything, and the foothills is experiencing flooding in some areas, such as Cochrane.
Rogers Pass and the Bugaboos.
ACMG Mountain Conditions Summary for the Coast Mountains - June 27th, 2019
Posting the following report on behalf of Andrew Councell (IFMGA Mountain Guide)
The dry alpine rock with warm and sunny weather on the coast is temporarily on hold. Last night in the Sea to Sky Corridor we had a dusting of new snow down to around 1800m, with more towards the north on the Duffey Lake Road with what looked like about 10cm in the alpine (photo attached). Expect increased rockfall as the new snow melts, which will probably one of the biggest hazards this weekend. Cornices lingering from the winter and also still out there and collapsing, which I witnessed a couple of times in the past week.
It looks to be a soggy Thursday night and Friday day in the Rockies but possibly staying a little drier in the Columbias. Observations from the Rockies near the divide currently show around 10-20 cm of recent snow above 2000m up by the Columbia Icefields and maybe 5-10 new snow at around 2100m around Lake Louise/Lake O'Hara. Assume much more than that above 3000m.
After a few days of unsettled weather, the weekend is looking pretty good for getting out in the mountains! Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be mostly sunny with a small chance of late day thundershowers. Saturday night looks both cool and clear which should help snow travel conditions on Sunday morning if you get up early enough. Monday ushers in a week of unsettled cool and showery weather according to the current long range forecasts.
Great conditions currently on the coast for mountaineering and alpine rock climbing.
The Rockies are known for rapid weather changes and this week has not been an exception. In the town of Banff right now it is 0 degrees and snowing at about 2 cm per hour. Yesterday had some sun with a high of 13, and earlier this week it was bluebird and 26 degrees.
Alpine climbing season has cooled from last week...for the better.
Weather
Wet and cooler temperatures have been the pattern of the week and leading through the coming weekend. Far more typical conditions to be expected for this time of year. Generally, the system has been broken with periods of sun or strong precip. A dusting of new snow to 1900m has in most places melted but might still be found in some deep, dark, high places.
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