Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain on Monday

Monday: Mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate west winds. Freezing level 2400m.Tuesday: Cloudy with scattered flurries. Light westerly winds. Freezing level 1500m.Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with some sunny breaks. Light west winds. Freezing level 1800m.

Recent reports from the past 3 days indicate natural avalanches running to size 3 from southerly aspects in the alpine and at tree-line.

Mainly sunny weather and the freezing level reaching up to 2300m has created moist snow and/or a crust on all aspects and elevations except for high elevation north-facing terrain. This has helped to settle out last week's storm snow accumulations. Moderate west and northwest winds 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 region: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.