Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Sunday

Synopsis: High pressure at the surface and aloft should result in a classic spring pattern. Freezing levels are expected to rise above treeline each day, dropping almost to valley bottom overnight. Winds should back way off, only light values are expected even at ridgetop through the weekend.Friday: Freezing Level: 1500m rising to 2000m; Precipitation: 0:2mm - 1:3cm; Wind: Treeline: Light, SW | Ridgetop: Moderate, W/NWSaturday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom rising to 1700m; Precipitation: 0:2mm - 1:3cm; Wind: Treeline: Light, NE | Ridgetop: Light, NWSunday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom rising to 2000m; Precipitation: Nil; Wind: Treeline: Light, N | Ridgetop: Light, NW

A good overnight refreeze Tuesday night helped to limit avalanche activity on Wednesday to small sluffs and loose wet avalanches on solar aspects to size 1.5.

Warm temperatures resulted in the freezing level reaching to almost 2500m early this week. This has helped to settle out last weeks storm snow, it's reported to be bonding well to the old surface. Strong winds out of both the SW and NW have redistributed what little dry snow still exists at upper elevations into wind slabs immediately lee of ridge crest.Three persistent weak layers exist in the highly variable snowpack of the South Columbia's:The mid-March sun crust/surface hoar layer down 50-80cm seams to have gone dormant for the time being.The early-March crust/facet/surface hoar layer down around 80-120cm has become less susceptible to human triggering, but still has the capacity to produce large avalanches.The mid-February crust/facet/surface hoar combo is typically down 150 - 200cm. Direct triggering of this layer has become unlikely, however, cornice fall, a smaller avalanche in motion or prolonged warming could wake this layer up, which would result in very large and destructive avalanches.