South Columbia

The persistent slab problem is best managed with patience and conservative terrain choices. Read more in the new forecaster blog here.

High - The weather pattern is stable

MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods, light wind, alpine temperature drop to -10 C.TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind with moderate gusts from the northwest, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.

The most recent 10-30 cm of low density snow was reactive to skiers on steep and convex features on Sunday. Otherwise, natural and human triggered activity has started to tapered off.However, as recent as last Friday, large (size 2-3) persistent slab avalanches were occurring naturally. There have also been a few notable persistent slab avalanches remotely triggered from skiers on adjacent slopes. Most recently, last Wednesday a few large (size 2-2.5) avalanches on north-facing slopes were remotely triggered by skiers in the Selkirks.

10-20 cm of low density snow sits above wind slabs in the alpine, and in some isolated areas above small surface hoar (feathery crystals).A weak layer that formed during the dry spell in early December is now 50-100 cm deep. The layer is composed of weak facets, surface hoar, and a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes. This layer has been responsible for large persistent slab avalanches over the past two weeks, particularly on north and east facing slopes between 1900-2300 m and on steep south-facing slopes in the alpine.The lower snowpack is generally strong and settled, with a crust that formed in late October near the bottom of the snowpack.