South Columbia

Avalanche conditions could vary dramatically between aspects and elevations Decision making may be more tricky than the Moderate danger rating implies.

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday

SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy with continued light snowfall bringing another 1-3cm of accumulation. Freezing levels around 1300m and winds are expected to be light from the southwest. SUNDAY: Another 5-10cm possible overnight before continued light snowfall brings1-3cm of accumulation throughout the day. Freezing levels rising throughout the day to as high as 1500m and winds are expected to be light from the southwest. MONDAY: Moderate rain/snow with freeing levels around 1800m.

Reports from Wednesday include limited results with explosives control producing only one Size 2.5 persistent slab avalanche releasing on the early-January surface hoar down 100cm in a lower elevation start zone where previous surface hoar growth was prevalent. Reports from Thursday include more evidence of recent persistent slab avalanche activity running on the early January surface hoar, with a two-day old 60cm deep Size 2.5 observed on a south facing alpine slope.

A supportive near surface crust is likely in most places aside from shaded aspects at treeline elevations, and lower elevations that are under melt-freeze conditions. This crust and perhaps new surface hoar (where it survived the heat, rain and sun) could be buried by as much as 15-20cm of fresh snow or deeper wind slabs. Avalanche professionals are still monitoring the persistent weakness buried early January, which is now down 80-120 cm. In most places it is no longer sensitive to light triggers. However, in specific locations it still produces hard, but sudden results in snowpack tests.