North Columbia

6:30 AM UPDATE: Fresh and reactive wind slabs may form at treeline and above. Carefully assess local conditions and adjust your plans based on ongoing evaluations.

No recent avalanche activity has been reported.

Observations remain limited this early in the season. If you head into the backcountry, please post to the Mountain Information Network

Wind-affected surfaces exist in exposed terrain at upper elevations. While 30 to 40 cm of settling snow can still be found in wind-sheltered terrain.

Down roughly 40 to 90 cm from the surface at treeline, a crust buried in early November exists. Reports suggest that weak faceted crystals or surface hoar may exist on top of the crust in some areas.

Various melt-freeze crusts can be found at the base of the snowpack, which are not concerning avalanche layers at the moment.

Snow depths at treeline are roughly 80 to 150 cm, and decrease rapidly at lower elevations..

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 4 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
• Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.
• Be cautious of buried obstacles, especially below treeline.