South Columbia

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

The ridge of High pressure is expected to continue to influence the interior ranges for the next few days. As the ridge weakens we may see high cloud reducing the exposure to strong solar radiation. Nights are expected to continue to be clear and cool. Freezing levels in the North should rise during the day to about 1800 metres, and to about 2000 metres in the South. Some light precipitation may start to move in from the coast on Thursday afternoon.

Cornice failures continue to be reported from several parts of the region. There were also a couple of dry slab and loose dry avalanches reported from alpine elevations. There was a skier accidental size 2.0 avalanche on Sunday in an adjacent region (Glacier National Park), that resulted in one fatality.

Cornices are reported to be very large and weakly bonded. Natural cornice falls are a concern during daytime warming. Cornices may also be triggered easily by travelling near them. Slopes with corniced entrances, or exposed to cornice falls should be avoided with these conditions. Dry windslabs may be found on Northwest thru Northeast aspects at higher elevations. These wind slabs are reported to be improving their bond to the old surface, but may continue to be triggered by skiers and riders. Loose moist or wet snow may fall naturally out of very steep terrain on sun exposed slopes. Small loose snow avalanches may trigger the recent storm snow slab where it is moist from solar heating and sitting on a planar sliding surface like an old sun or rain crust. The weak layer of buried surface hoar from March 10th is down more than a metre in most places, and is giving variable results in snow profile tests. The lower snowpack consists of well bonded layers that are well settled and strong.