North Columbia

Flurries are forecast to bring 5-15 cm of new snow on Thursday. Expect avalanche danger to increase through the day as the snow accumulates and the wind redistributes the snow into reactive slabs.

Wednesday Night:: Cloudy with clear periods. Light west wind. Alpine high temperatures around -8.

Thursday: Flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Alpine high temperatures around -6. Freezing level 800 m

Friday: Scattered flurries. Moderate west wind. Alpine high temperatures around -7. Freezing level 700 m

Saturday: Scattered flurries. Light to moderate west wind. Alpine high temperatures around -5. Freezing level 1000 m

On Tuesday there were reports of several wind and storm slabs running naturally size 1, 1.5 and 2 on south, east and north aspects in the alpine. There were also a few skier/rider triggered size 1 and 1.5 thin storm slab avalanches.

Reports from Saturday, Sunday and Monday show numerous loose dry avalanche size 1-1.5 running in steep terrain in the alpine and at tree line. There were also a few skier and rider along with naturally triggered storm and wind slab avalanches size 1-1.5 on a variety of aspects in the alpine and at treeline.

30-70 cm of snow accumulating through the last week overlies older wind-affected snow at high elevations, or a melt-freeze or rain crust to a variable upper extent of 1700-2400 metres in elevation. Moderate to strong winds have redistributed this new snow onto a variety of aspects.

The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong. Although isolated, there are two deeper weak layers that may persist in some areas. A weak layer of surface hoar buried 90 to 170 cm deep may be found across the north of the region while a facet/crust layer from November may be found near the ground in shallower snowpack areas.

• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
• Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.