Avalanche Forecast
South Columbia
It's a good day for travel in the mountains. Normal cautions will help you to manage lingering avalanche problems.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday there were several reports of solar-triggered loose wet avalanches as well as cornice and glide crack failures up to size 3 on predominantly south to west aspects at all elevations.
Last Friday there were reports of natural cornices failures up to size 2 on north and northeast facing slopes in the alpine that had little effect on the slopes below, while explosive control produced only small (size 1) storm slabs on similar aspects.
Thursday there were reports of sloughs and small (size 1) loose, dry avalanches in steep terrain, and on Wednesday there were reports of both skier triggered and natural wind slab releases up to size 1.5, as well as a size 2 natural cornice failure all on on north aspects between 2000 - 2400 m.
Snowpack Summary
Recent light snowfalls (10-20 cm) have been followed by warm daytime temperatures and glimpses of sun, setting up a couple of thin storm snow layers over temperature and sun crusts on south aspects. On shaded aspects at higher elevations, the recent snow overlies older dry snow above a well-settled snowpack.
New snow amounts taper with elevation and below 1900 m, minimal accumulations have buried a supportive crust on all aspects. This crust will likely break down with daytime warming, becoming moist in the afternoon.
Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, large 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.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow, continuing overnight. Light to moderate southwest winds. Freezing level to 1500 metres with alpine high temperatures around -5.
Wednesday: Cloudy with continuing isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light to moderate southeast winds, increasing overnight. Freezing level to 1600 metres with alpine high temperatures around -3.
Thursday: Cloudy with flurries bringing 5-10 cm of new snow. Moderate to strong southeast winds. Freezing level to 1900 metres with alpine high temperatures around 0.
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A well-settled snowpack has limited avalanche problems to lingering wind slabs and cornices as well as small loose snow releases during periods of daytime warming.