Avalanche Forecast
South Columbia
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Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution above ledges and cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, a few wet loose avalanches to Size 1.5 were reported on steep south and west aspects.
On Friday, a Size 2 dry loose avalanche was reported at 2300m on a south east aspect near Rogers Pass.
Last week, a few size 3 natural avalanches were reported on steep north (east) facing alpine faces in the Selkirks and also near 2500m east of Rogers Pass. The failure layers are unknown, but likely an early season crust.
Snowpack Summary
On steep sunny slopes the warming temperatures will melt and weaken upper snowpack layers.
Warming also has the potential to wake up more deeply buried crust layers which formed during November's rainfall. On the whole, these crusts have been showing reasonable bonding in snowpack and slope tests.
Isolated wind slabs may still be found behind ridges and ribs, primarily on north through east aspects.
Below treeline, the snowpack is shallow--look out for early season hazards like open creeks and tree stumps.
Weather Forecast
We'll see little change in the weather pattern: valley cloud and cool temperatures down low but sunny and warm up high.
MONDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods. Light wind. Freezing level near 1500m with an above freezing layer around 3300 m. Alpine high temperatures near +3.
TUESDAY: Sunny with increasing cloud in the afternoon. Light to moderate west wind. Freezing level near 1800 m with a colder air layer in the valleys.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods. Light northerly winds. Freezing level near 1700 m.
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Loose wet avalanches are possible in steep, rocky, sunny terrain. Warming could also wake up more deeply buried weak layers.