North Columbia

Until cold temperatures lock in this warm and wet snowpack, dangerous avalanche conditions and poor riding quality will exist.

Human triggered avalanches are possible.

A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred over the past three days. Numerous large (size 2-3.5) wet slab, persistent slab, and wet loose avalanches have been reported from all aspects and elevations.

Until colder temperatures arrive and stabilize the snowpack, rider-triggered avalanches remain likely. Avoid overhead exposure, very large natural avalanches are possible and have the potential to run to valley bottom.

A thin, breakable crust exists above 2300 m with moist snow under the crust. Wet, saturated snow 2200 m and below.

The stress of the new load (warm, wet upper snowpack) has been actively producing large slab avalanches failing down to the early/mid January persistent weak crust/facet layer (30-70 cm down) and the early December rain crust/ facet layer (100+ cm down).

Wednesday Night

Cloudy, a trace of new snow in the alpine, treeline temperatures near 3°C, south alpine wind 20 gusting to 45 km/h, freezing level around 2200 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, light rain/ snow amounts, southwest alpine wind 20 to 35 km/h, freezing level around 2200 m.

Friday

Cloudy with snow 10-15 cm, treeline temperatures near -2°C, southerly alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, freezing levels near 1800 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud, a trace of new snow, treeline temperatures near -4°C, southwest alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, freezing level valley 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches may run surprisingly far.
• Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.