North Columbia

Staying cold through the end of the week...

High - The weather pattern is stable

Thursday: Generally clear skies / Light to moderate northeast wind / Alpine temperature -16Friday: Sunny with cloudy periods / Light northeast wind / Alpine temperature -21Saturday: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature of -16

Recent reports in the last 2 days indicate a few isolated cornices in the alpine triggering windslabs on slopes below to size 2 on east and west aspects. Other than those, all other reports focus on thin windslabs in the immediate lee of terrain features to size 1.

In most areas recent low density storm snow has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above above a crust that was buried in mid-november. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to two metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this layer and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity.