North Columbia

Storm slabs will be deepest and most reactive in places the wind has blown the snow into deeper deposits.

Take extra care in places the surface snow feels heavy or dense.

Moderate

• Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Jan 5

• A few large (up to size 2) natural and human triggered storm slab avalanches were reported in the region, on east and north aspects at all elevations.

Jan 4

• A few small (up to size 1.5) avalanches were reported in the region on northerly aspects in the alpine and at treeline.

The upper 30 to 50 cm of the snow pack is an accumulation of snow from the last few days.

Moderate southwesterly wind has been redistributing the recent snow, continuing to build slabs that are likely to be deeper and more reactive on wind-loaded lee slopes near ridge tops.

The prominent mid-December crust is buried up to 110 cm deep and extends to 2200 m. Triggering the crust is considered unlikely, except with large loads or in thin snowpack areas.

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
• Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
• Start on smaller terrain features and gather information before committing to bigger terrain.