South Columbia

Forecast winds are expected to continue to develop pockets of new windslabs in the alpine.

Good

Cloud developing overnight with moderate southwest winds and freezing levels dropping down to about 1200 metres. A mix of sun and cloud on Monday with freezing levels rising up to about 2200 metres. Mostly sunny on Tuesday with light southwest winds and freezing levels around 2300 metres. Cloudy with snow on Wednesday combined with moderate southwest winds and slightly lower freezing levels.

One report of a large (possible size 3.0) avalanche in the Gold Range of the Monashees that was viewed from a distance with binoculars. This avalanche occurred in extreme terrain and is expected not to be cornice triggered. Warming temperatures this week and high freezing levels are a concern for persistent weak layers "waking up."

Variable recent storm snow totals across the region are generally in the 5-25 cm range. The snow surface varies with elevation and aspect with respect to sun and wind exposure, and includes dry new snow, loose facetted snow, wind slabs, and sun crusts. The mid-February crust is down around 10-30 cm where it is not wind loaded or scoured. The late-Jan crust/surface hoar layer (up to 100 cm deep) and the mid-January surface hoar (80-120 cm deep) are generally dormant, and chances of triggering these weaknesses have decreased. However, triggering may be possible with a large input such as cornice fall, or an avalanche stepping down, especially on slopes that see a lot of sun.