South Columbia

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Saturday

Overnight and Thursday: The Northwest flow is expected to continue to push the cold arctic air to the East. Northwest winds moderate overnight becoming strong during the day. No precipitation is expected tonight, and light snow falls of 3-5 cms are expected on Thursday. Alpine temperatures gradually warming on Thursday and freezing levels rising to about 1100 metres.Friday: No precipitation is expected as a high pressure system in the South influences most of the interior mountain ranges. Expect clear skies in the alpine and valley cloud. Freezing level at about 1100 metres.Saturday: High pressure should continue to influence. No precipitation expected, and freezing level at about 1100 metres.

There was one skier accidental avalanche size 2.0 that released below treeline on a steep East facing roll, the slab was about 55 cms deep and released on a weak layer of surface hoar (probably Jan23rd). Natural sluffing from steep terrain up to size 1.5. Wind slab avalanches skier controlled up to size 1.5 on East aspects. A few natural slab avalanches releasing in the storm snow down about 60 cms.

Approximately 40 to 60 cm of recent storm snow overlies a weak layer comprising of surface hoar in shady locations, facets at higher elevations and a sun crust on solar aspects. The recent new snow sitting above this interface has been slowly consolidating from fresh powder into a more cohesive slab. A mid-pack surface hoar layer buried in early January is down around 90 cm, and is best preserved below approximately 1700 m. A freezing rain crust has been reported near the surface (it may now be buried by light snow) in the Monashees, particularly in areas close to Mabel Lake.