Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Sunday: A relatively cool unstable air mass will continue to bring showers or flurries to the region with light to locally moderate accumulations. Winds should remain light to moderate from the southwest with freezing levels hovering around 1600m.Monday: Scattered flurries are expected throughout the day, although some clearing is expected by late afternoon as a dry ridge of high pressure starts to develop. Winds are expected to be light from the northwest with freezing levels at about 1700m.

Expect loose wet avalanches in steep terrain if it is raining or during sunny periods, especially if the sun or rain is affecting fresh snow. Spring squalls may bring locally heavy precipitation and new storm or wind slabs may develop in higher terrain if you see significant new snow accumulation. Cornices collapses have been reported during periods of daytime warming. Occasionally these heavy triggers have caused large deep slab avalanches on the slopes below.

This is a broad summary of conditions is based on limited field data and should be supplemented with local observations to help assess avalanche danger.Over the past week or so the Columbias have seen moderate amounts of new snow mixed with showers or periods of rain below 1600-1800 m. Southerly winds have likely formed pockets of wind slab at higher elevations in lee of ridges and terrain features. The upper snowpack generally consists of layers of moist and/or dry snow mixed with several well bonded crusts. Below 1300-1500 m most areas are likely below threshold for avalanches depending on aspect. The mid-February crust/facet/surface hoar combo is typically down 150 - 200cm. Human triggered avalanches on this layer are unlikely. Larger triggers such as cornice fall, a smaller avalanche in motion or prolonged warming could wake this layer up, resulting in very large and destructive avalanche.