Avalanche Forecast

High -

WEDNESDAY Night: Clear periods, light south wind, alpine temperature -13 C.THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light southeast wind, alpine temperature -10 C.FRIDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5 cm , light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -8 CSATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, light north wind, alpine temperature -12 C

On Tuesday there was report of a skier triggered size 2 persistent slab avalanche 60 cm deep on an east aspect at 1900m. On Sunday there was a small human-triggered avalanche was reported from a north aspect at 2100 m. It failed around 35 cm deep on the mid-January surface hoar layer. A snowmobiler died in a large (size 2) slab avalanche on Saturday just outside this region in the North Columbias (report here). The avalanche was triggered by the rider at 2100 m on a south aspect. The crown fracture varied from 15-100 cm deep, suggesting wind loading was a factor in the incident.

A touchy weak layer responsible for a several close calls and surprise avalanches lies approximately 50 cm below the surface (30 cm in shallow areas, 60 cm or more in deeper spots). This weak layer was buried mid-January and comprises a mix of surface hoar and facets. On southerly aspects, it lies on top of a sun crust. This is a dangerous weak layer that is shallow enough to be easily triggered but deep enough to produce large avalanches. It is most prevalent at treeline and below treeline elevations, but there have been a few reports of its presence in sheltered areas in the alpine.Strong northerly and easterly winds have created complicated patterns of wind-loaded snow.Average snow depths are approximately 270 cm. Lower layers in the snowpack are not a significant factor at this time.