North Columbia

Treat wind affected slopes with great caution, new and reactive wind slabs are likely.

Moderate

• Recent weather patterns have resulted in a high degree of snowpack variability within the region.

Jan 8

• Small skier controlled wind slabs were observed out of steep convex northwest aspects in the McGregor range

Jan 7

• Explosive control produced large avalanches (up to size 3) in Sentinel Pass

Jan 6

• Natural and human triggered avalanches were reported in the region up to size 2.5 on a variety of aspects and elevations.

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.

Upwards of 100 cm of snow has accumulated over the past week or so. Recent snow has been affected by moderate southwesterly wind in open areas at treeline and in the alpine. In isolated sheltered areas, it may rest over a layer of surface hoar.

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.

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
• Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.