Avalanche Forecast
South Columbia
Variable amounts of new snow throughout the region has been redistributed by recent moderate to strong southeast and east wind. When the sun comes out this time of year it usually packs a punch - steep southerly slopes are suspect right now.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
An interface buried up to 70cm deep has "woken-up". This problem seems most reactive in south-facing terrain where buried crusts exist.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch convoluted terrain with variable or shallow snow depths and multiple trigger points.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger persistent slabs.
- Carefully assess and consider avoiding southerly facing slopes.
Avalanche Summary
Thursday's reports focus on wind and storm slab avalanches up to size 2 at treeline and in the alpine primarily on north and east aspects. Wednesday's reports either spoke to "no new avalanches" or small (size 1 to 2) slabs triggered by people. There was a single size 2.5 avalanche on a south aspect releasing on a layer approximately 70 cm deep.
Prior to Wednesday, avalanche activity consisted of mainly loose dry sluffing, storm slabs, or wind slabs (skier triggered and skier remote) in the size 1 to 2 range. However, we've received reports of persistent slab avalanches where recent accumulations have been the highest. These avalanches, were remotely triggered (from a distance) or naturally occurring. We suspect the sun crust buried mid-February is the culprit for those on southerly aspects. Deep persistent avalanche activity has become less frequent over the past week.
Snowpack Summary
An additional 10-25cm of new snow fell Thursday into Friday, bringing the storm snow total this week to 40 to 70cm. Earlier in the last storm it was redistributed into localized wind slabs. It covers old surfaces including faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on shady slopes. Around 50 to 80cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar. March 01 today -- 'tis the season when solar aspects start to get complicated!
There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. I'm talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may "wake-up" with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-15cm Friday night into Saturday / Light southeast wind / Alpine temperature -8 / Freezing level 900m
SUNDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -12
MONDAY: Mix of sun, cloud and isolated flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -12
NOTE: Convective flurries which are common during this time of year can result in widely varying snowfall amounts throughout a region. These spring squalls routinely drop 20+ cm of snow in one valley while the adjacent drainage remains dry. For this reason, the distribution of avalanche problems associated with new snow, such as wind slabs, can vary greatly within a region.
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Localized wind slabs may have formed on the down-wind side of ridges and ribs. Watch cross-loaded slopes and gullies too!