North Columbia

This forecast was produced with very limited field observations and it is critical to supplement this information with your own observations. Tell us what you see by posting to the Mountain Information Network! (MIN)

Low - Due to the number of field observations

SATURDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy / no new snow / light southwest winds / alpine low temperature near -8SUNDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods / no new snow / light south winds / alpine high temperature near -3 / Freezing level 1000 mMONDAY - Flurries, 5-15 cm / moderate south winds / alpine temperatures: high 0 low -3 / Freezing level 1200 mTUESDAY - Flurries, 5-10 cm / moderate south winds / alpine temperatures: high -1 low -3 / Freezing level 1500 mForecast snowfall amounts for Monday and Tuesday vary throughout the region with higher amounts predicted for the Monashees, and overall amounts tapering further north.

There have been recent reports of several explosives triggered avalanches to size 2, and rider triggered avalanches to size 1.5.

15-30 cm of recent storm snow sits on top of a weak layer that consists of surface hoar (weak feathery crystals), sun crust on steep south facing slopes, and old wind slabs in the alpine. The surface hoar is most prevalent at treeline and below, but it may exist in sheltered alpine areas. This recent snow is settling into a slab and it is likely that wind loaded areas will have deeper pockets of snow on top of this weak layer.Down approximately 50 cm is another layer of interest that formed in mid November. This layer exists as a crust or surface hoar depending on aspect and elevation. Information on this layer is limited, but expect to find surface hoar in shady locations, and crust on south aspects and at low elevations.Total snowpack depths vary greatly with elevation. Recent reports show depths of 120-200 cm in the alpine, 80-145 cm at treeline and 10-120 cm below treeline.