South Columbia

Danger will increase throughout the week with new snow and strong winds in the forecast. Watch for fresh wind slabs at higher elevations.

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries starting in the afternoon, moderate west winds with strong gusts, alpine temperatures around -12 C.WEDNESDAY: Continued flurries with 5-15 cm of new snow, moderate west winds with strong gusts, alpine temperatures around -8 C.THURSDAY: Another 10 cm of new snow, strong southwest winds, alpine temperatures around -6 C.

On Sunday, small avalanches in the new snow were reported including natural and skier triggered size 1 wind slabs on a variety of aspects. Sluffing in steep terrain was widespread. A few size 2 natural avalanches were also reported in alpine terrain, potentially releasing on the mid-February interface 30-40 cm deep. Winds will pick up again on Tuesday and form fresh wind slabs.

Recent flurries delivered 10-20 cm with some moderate winds forming thin wind slabs on a variety of aspects at higher elevations. The new snow has buried a sun crust and spotty surface hoar layer and will sluff easily in steep terrain. The the mid-February interface is now buried 30-50 cm deep, and is composed of a thick rain crust up to about 1800 m, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on shaded aspects. This layer could develop into a persistent slab problem once the snow above it settles into a stiffer slab. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.