Avalanche Forecast
North Columbia
"Touchy", "electric", "spicy"... A few of the words that have been used to describe recent conditions. Avalanche activity has been extensive and is set to persist over the coming days. Choose low angle, low consequence terrain.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use extra caution in wind affected areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
- If triggered, the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Skier traffic has triggered large avalanches on this layer, which is buried around 50 to 80 cm in the snowpack. Shallower storm slabs could step down to this layer. If triggered, this layer could produce large, destructive avalanches that run far.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use conservative route selection. Choose moderate-angled and well-supported terrain.
- Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Monday showed a continuation of Sunday's activity, with numerous persistent slabs and storm slabs releasing naturally and with remote (from a distance) triggers. Sizes ranged from small to large (Size 1-2) with slab depths of 10-60 cm. Activity was observed on all aspects and elevation ranges.
On Sunday, numerous avalanches were triggered naturally and by skiers on the December 15 surface hoar layer at and below treeline on all aspects. The avalanches were small to large, being reported between size 1 and 2.5 with depths of about 40 to 50 cm. This has been a consistent and increasing trend, with around 5-10 avalanches being reported on this layer each day for the past week.
Please share your recent observations through the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
30-60 cm of new snow has accumulated on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and over a sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches resulted as the new snow consolidated into a slab before bonding to the underlying surface. Strong southwest winds have accelerated slab formation at higher elevations.
The additional snow has increased the reactivity of a number of buried weak layers. 50-100 cm of snow now overlies a layer of weak and feathery surface hoar, found primarily at and below treeline. Dubbed the December 15 surface hoar, this layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches. See the Avalanche Summary for recent activity.
Deeper in the snowpack (90 to 150 cm), a crust that formed back in November is producing variable test results (sudden to no result). This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable-depth snowpack areas in the alpine.
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries and a trace to 5 cm of new snow. Light southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures to -11.
Thursday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries and approximately 5 cm of new snow. Light variable winds. Alpine high temperatures to -9.
Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate west winds. Alpine high temperatures to -9.
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Many avalanches have been human-triggered in the recent 30 to 60 cm of storm snow. The snow is sitting on variable surfaces and it is not bonding well to them. The new snow is likely to be especially reactive where it has been affected by the wind.