Avalanche Forecast
North Columbia
Give cornices a respectful berth.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
- 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?
Persistent slabs are most likely to be triggered with a large load like cornice fall; or by a person in a thin or variable-depth snowpack spot.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger persistent slabs.
- Avoid convoluted terrain with variable or shallow snow depths and multiple trigger points.
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, a few small loose and slab avalanches were reported.
A few large (size 2-3) persistent slabs also failed early this week, both naturally and with a remote trigger. These were reported as failing on the February persistent weak layers on south to west aspects, mostly in the east of the region.
Snowpack Summary
Solar aspects have developed new sun crusts which new snow may sluff easily on. Recent storm snow continues to settle. A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 50-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, this interface was most reactive on solar aspects, where it presents as a buried sun crust. However, it has been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.
Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY: Cloudy. Around 10-15 cm snow. Treeline temperature near -5. Light winds.
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Treeline temperature near -3. Light winds.
SATURDAY: Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature near -1. Light winds.
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New snow and wind may build new wind slabs. Stay well away from large looming cornices.