South Columbia

Avalanche hazard is low with generally safe avalanche conditions.

Use normal caution, apply good travel habits, and reduce your exposure to cornice hazard when possible.

High

• We are confident due to a stable weather pattern.

A few small natural, wet loose avalanches  and a skier triggered cornice fall have been reported in the past 3 days but  No new slab avalanches have been reported.

A surface hoar layer has developed in sheltered terrain over a crust that exists on all aspects up to at least 2300 m and as high as 2700 m, this crust is breakable above 1900 m on north aspects. On high north aspects, dry, wind affected snow could exist. The snow surface is expected to become moist on sun exposed slopes.

Cornices are large and overhanging.

Weak layers from early January and Late December are buried over a meter deep except in shallow snowpack areas. It would require a large load like a cornice fall to trigger these layers.

Wednesday Night
Clear skies. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Thursday
Sunny. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Friday
Mostly sunny. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.

Saturday
Sunny. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
• A hard crust on the snow surface will help strengthen the snowpack, but may cause tough travel conditions.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
• Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.