Avalanche Forecast
South Columbia
Convective snowfall will make for variability both in snowfall and avalanche danger. Consider danger to be HIGH in areas that get over 30 cm of new snow. South aspects may be extra touchy where new snow buries yet another crust.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure to steep south-facing slopes where recent storm snow overlies a crust.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- Be careful with wind loaded slopes, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Saturday included numerous observations of storm slabs releasing naturally as well as with skier traffic and explosives control. Sizes ranged from 2-3, with crown fracture depths varying from 30-100 cm. This activity occurred on all aspects but was focused at alpine elevations. Wind slab releases made up a large number of observations, noted predominantly on southeast aspects.
Widespread avalanche activity occurred in the top 30 cm of new snow on Friday. Numerous natural and skier triggered size 1 avalanches were reported, with the most reactive conditions on wind-affected slopes at treeline on north and east aspects.
On Thursday, several size 1 skier triggered storm slab avalanches were reported. They were 30-50 cm thick and occurred on north and east aspects above treeline. One of the slabs subsequently triggered a larger size 2 avalanches that ran on the late-March crust. Some natural size 2-3 storm slabs avalanches were also reported in alpine terrain and a cornice fall on a north aspect in the Selkirks triggered a size 2.5 avalanche on an unidentified 2 m deep weak layer.
Snowpack Summary
Light new snow amounts have begun to accumulate over wind-affected surfaces as well as a new crust on sun-exposed aspects. Below the surface, storm snow totals from last week reached 40-80 cm, with amounts that taper with elevation.
The storm snow sits on an interface buried in late-March that consist of crusts below 1900 m and on south aspects, and surface hoar on shaded aspects at higher elevations.
Pockets of surface hoar (buried mid-March) have been reported on shaded aspects at higher elevations and may be found approximately 60-80 cm below the surface.
Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are still being reported by professional observers, but are generally considered dormant.
Weather Forecast
Sunday night: Convective flurries bringing 5-15 cm of new snow. Light north winds.
Monday: Mainly cloudy with lingering isolated flurries and a trace to 3 cm of new snow. Light variable winds. Freezing level to 800 metres with alpine high temperatures around - 9.
Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light southwest winds. Freezing level to 1100 metres with alpine high temperatures around -7.
Wednesday: Cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow, increasing overnight. Light southwest winds. Freezing level to 1400 metres with alpine high temperatures around -5.
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New snow will form a fresh storm slab layer over Sunday night, with localized areas of enhanced precipitation and avalanche danger. Large and destructive avalanches may result if shallower slabs 'step down' to the full depth of recent snowfall.