Below: The European model for the period Wednesday 2/8 through midnight Monday 2/13 shows a parade of Pacific troughs interspersed with transient high-pressure ridges. The first trough on Friday looks fairly weak. A deeper trough begins to spread into the Rockies Sunday afternoon with Monday looking pretty good for some moderately deep pow, especially along the Divide. 

Below: Proof of a substantial, and sublime pow day at Castle Mountain on Wednesday.

   

Thursday: A ridge of high-pressure looks to amplify on Thursday delivering a mostly sunny day across the Alberta Rockies along with seasonal temps and generally light SW winds. 

Friday: The ridge of high-pressure weakens on Friday as a Pacific trough edges eastward into the Rockies. Friday will offer a mainly cloudy, but breezy day with afternoon flurries for resorts closest to the Divide (Castle, Sunshine, Louise, Marmot). About a 25% chance of trace accumulations to 3cm by days end. Temps will be slightly warmer on Friday with alpine highs -3C to -6C. Moderate SW winds with ridgetop gusts 40 – 50 kph.

Saturday: Residual flurries before midnight Friday could bring an additional trace to 3cm for those resorts near the Continental Divide as the Pacific trough moves out of the Rockies. Transient high-pressure returns on Saturday with mainly cloudy skies at the SkiBig3 resorts north to Marmot Basin. A mix of sun and clouds at Nakiska, Powderkeg, and Castle.  Moderate W/SW winds, gusty along the ridgetops. Alpine temps at 2200m will range from -3C to -6C. 

Sunday: The high-pressure ridge along the Rockies will bring a mix of sun and cloud through the morning hours across the range. Clouds will be on the increase during the afternoon as a deep trough of low-pressure begins to encroach into the Rockies. Light SW winds becoming moderate and gusty W/SW winds during the afternoon. Alpine temps -4C to -7C. 

Monday: Still a few details to be worked out but the latest weather model runs all favor a decent storm system to move through the Alberta Rockies beginning on Monday. Widespread periods of snow look possible across the range on Monday and Monday night with 10 – 20cm possible at those resorts closest to the Divide. Alpine high temps will range -5C to -8C. Moderate SW winds. 

Below: European model for snowfall across Western Canada for the period Wednesday 2/8 through 11PM (MTN) Tuesday night . The snow finally begins to spill over into the Alberta Rockies Sunday night 2/12 through Tuesday 2/14 night.  

The deep Pacific trough will be a slow mover as it’s expected to linger over the Rockies Tuesday through Tuesday night. The South Rockies look to be most favored where Castle Mountain could pick up an additional 10 – 15cm through midnight on Tuesday. Resorts to the north along the Divide, mainly Sunshine and Louise could see an additional 3 – 8cm. Cooler on Tuesday with alpine highs -6C to -10C. 

High-pressure looks to build in for the period Wednesday 2/15 through Friday 2/17. Alpine temps look to stay seasonal through the period. Looking into the following weekend, another Pacific trough looks to bounce the ridge eastward for a return of unsettled weather Saturday 2/18 and Sunday 2/19. 

Below: The Euro model for the period Monday 2/13 through Saturday 2/18. The deep Pacific trough sticks around on Tuesday 2/14 before a ridge builds in Wednesday 2/15 through Friday 2/17, followed by a weak trough Friday PM into Saturday. It's a ways out, so stay tuned.  

Thanks for reading. Next update, Friday 2/10. 

Powder Out, 

Bob