Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with light isolated flurries, light to moderate wind from the west, alpine temperatures drop to -15 C.

SUNDAY: Scattered flurries with 5-15 cm of low density snow, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -12 C.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -20 C.

TUESDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -22 C.

Recent accumulations of low density snow resulted in several small (size 1) slab and dry loose avalanches on Friday. There were also a few reports of human triggered persistent slab avalanches that released on a 100 cm deep surface hoar layer on north and east aspects (including this MIN report from Clemina). There have been numerous reports of similar persistent slab avalanches over the past week, suggesting the buried surface hoar layer remains reactive to human triggering in the North Columbias, especially between 1200 and 2100 m.

Low density snow continues to accumulate, with 20-40 cm of fresh light snow on the surface. Cold temperatures and light wind should preserve this snow with the exception of some higher elevation terrain where isolated wind slabs could exist. A layer of surface hoar is now buried 80-120 cm below the surface and continues to be a concern across the region. A facet/crust layer from late November lingers near the bottom of the snowpack and has occasionally been reactive in isolated shallow snowpack areas.

• Approach steep, open and/or sparsely treed slopes cautiously.
• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.