North Columbia

Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

On Saturday, a naturally triggered size 2 wind slab was reported on a northerly aspect in the alpine.

It has been over a week since human-triggered avalanches were reported on the early April surface hoar layers.

NOTE: Observations are currently very limited in this region.

Up to 10 cm of recent snow may be found at upper elevations. This snow overlies a robust crust everywhere except northerly aspects at upper elevations.

Most terrain has undergone strong melt-freeze cycles, but the snowpack remains slightly more complex on north-facing alpine slopes. In the Selkirks, two surface hoar layers are buried 30 to 60 cm deep, and older weak layers may exist in the middle of the snowpack across the region.

However, none of these layers are expected to be reactive under current conditions.

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 3 to 10 cm snow. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Tuesday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.