North Columbia

As soon as the sun comes out the surface snow will become moist and increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches. Wind slabs might still be sensitive to human triggering.

High -

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods / light easterly wind / freezing level 400 mFRIDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods and isolated flurries / light to moderate westerly wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1800 mSATURDAY: Cloudy / up to 15 cm of snow accumulation / strong southwest wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1600 mSUNDAY: Cloudy / up to 5 cm of snow accumulation / light to moderate westerly wind / alpine high temperature -7 C / freezing level 1500 m

On Wednesday the avalanche activity decreased. A few natural and human triggered wind/storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported on west and north aspects at treeline and in the alpine. On Tuesday, several natural and human triggered storm/wind slab avalanches 20-40 cm deep and up to size 2.5 were observed on north and east aspects. Two of these were remotely triggered, one by humans and another one by a helicopter. A layer of small surface hoar below the most recent snow may have been the weak layer. Several natural wet slab and loose wet avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported from south and west aspects (see a MIN report from Glacier National Park).

Last weeks unsettled weather produced 30-50 cm of snow that sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals) in some areas. On northern aspects the new snow is slowly bonding and humans might still trigger wind slab avalanches. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.