Avalanche Forecast
Regions: South Columbia.
Confidence
High
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Mainly sunny with valley cloud and light southwesterly winds. A temperature inversion is expected to maintain well above freezing temperatures at treeline and alpine elevations. THURSDAY: Mainly clear and dry with freezing levels dropping below 2000m and light variable winds. FRIDAY: 3-5cm of snow possible with freezing levels dropping to valley bottoms and light southwesterly winds.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Monday include numerous natural and skier controlled loose wet sluffs reaching Size 2, which were generally slow moving and limited to steep sun-exposed slopes in the afternoon. A few natural 10-20cm thick wet slabs and cornice collapses were also reported.
Snowpack Summary
The surface snow is becoming moist and cohesionless, and cornices are getting weak throughout the day with warm temperatures and direct sun-exposure. Recent snow pack tests have been producing easy to moderate results on various storm snow weaknesses in the top 40cm. Avalanche professionals are still monitoring the persistent weakness buried early January, which is now down 80-120 cm. In most places it is no longer sensitive to light triggers. However, in specific locations it still produces hard, sudden results in snowpack tests, and forecast warming could wake it up again.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Wind Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 3 - 5