ISSUED: Friday December 26, 2025 11:15 MST

SYNOPSIS: A southwesterly feed of Pacific moisture in advance of a large upper trough pushing eastward across Oregon-Washington will provide periods of snow and possible snow showers during the remainder of today.  A separate trough digging southeastward from the central coast should provide snow, snow showers and gusty winds tonight.  Light snow should linger Saturday morning.  Surface based high pressure of modified Arctic origin should shift southward from northern BC for colder and at times windy conditions late tonight and Saturday, and clearing skies Saturday afternoon and Saturday night.

FREEZING LEVEL: Slightly above surface today.  Surface tonight and Saturday.

FERNIE ALPINE RESORT FORECAST (1615 metres):

TODAY: Snow developing mid morning, possibly easing to a few flurries late in the day. Accumulation from 6 to 12 cm.  Increasing wind during the afternoon.  High -1 or -2.

TONIGHT: Snow and possible snow showers, possibly easing to a few flurries near morning. Accumulation from 10 to 15 cm.  Windy, likely strong at times.  Low near -9.

SATURDAY: Occasional snow or a few flurries during the morning.  Light accumulation, possible 2 to 5 cm.  Windy, possibly strong at times during the morning.  Sunny with cloudy periods during the afternoon.  High near -9, trending a few degrees colder during the day.

SATURDAY NIGHT:  Clear with cloudy periods.  Low near -17.

OUTLOOK:

SUNDAY: Sunny with afternoon cloudy periods. High -9. Slight chance of flurries Sunday night. Low near -11

MONDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and a 40% chance of flurries.  High near -6.  Low near -9.

TUESDAY: A mix of sun & cloud, possible morning low cloud and fog patches.  High -4 or -5.  Low near -9.

CONFIDENCE/DISCUSSION: Fair to good confidence of the synoptic pattern through Sunday.  Fair Sunday night onward and also still fair confidence of the local details during the short term.  The computer models are increasingly variable with the moisture content of todays system, some solutions confine the heavier snow just south of Fernie.  Airmass instability could produce highly variable/locally heavy snow showers which makes for much uncertainty of the amount of snow tonight.  The leading edge of the modified Arctic airmass should provide light snow and possible blowing snow Saturday morning.  All of the guidance supports the much colder temperature during the weekend.  Weak disturbances/patchy moisture should drift over an upper ridge of high pressure (centred off the south coast) Sunday afternoon through Wednesday.  A deep temperature inversion should develop beginning Sunday or Monday.

Ron Lakeman.