Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

On Monday expect a mix of sun and cloud with a chance of isolated flurries. Winds should be mainly light from the northwest with freezing levels hovering around 1800m. On Tuesday and Wednesday a dry ridge of high pressure will bring mainly clear skies, light winds and freezing levels climbing upwards of 2500m by Tuesday afternoon.

Expect loose wet avalanches in steep terrain if it is raining or during sunny periods, especially if the sun or rain is affecting fresh snow. Spring squalls may bring locally heavy precipitation and new storm or wind slabs may develop in higher terrain if you see significant new snow accumulation. Cornices collapses have been reported during periods of daytime warming. Occasionally these heavy triggers have caused large deep slab avalanches on the slopes below.

This summary is based on limited field data and should be supplemented with local observations to help assess avalanche danger.Over the past week or so the Columbias have seen moderate amounts of new snow mixed with showers or periods of rain below 1600-1800 m. Southerly winds have likely formed pockets of wind slab at higher elevations in lee of ridges and terrain features. The upper snowpack generally consists of layers of moist and/or dry snow mixed with several well bonded crusts.The mid-February crust/facet/surface hoar combo is typically well over a metre below the surface. Direct triggering of this layer has become unlikely, however, cornice fall, a smaller avalanche in motion or prolonged warming may wake this layer up. The resulting avalanche would be very large and destructive.