South Columbia

Continued unsettled weather with a gradual cooling. The snowpack will take a few days to adjust to its new load. In the meantime a cautious approach is recommended.

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, wind light southeast, alpine temperature -7SUNDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, wind light south, alpine temperature -8MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, wind light south, alpine temperature -8More details can be found on the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Avalanche activity has been on a slow decline. Reports from Tuesday and Wednesday indicate several natural and explosives triggered avalanches to size 2.5 and 3. These avalanches were occurring on all aspects in the alpine and tree line and are isolated to the most recent storm snow. There were also reports of several skier and rider triggered avalanches to size 1.5 in both the alpine and tree line. Some of these were remotely triggered from a distance. There was an avalanche involvement in the North Columbia in a low elevation wind loaded pocket releasing on facets down 1m resulting in a full burial. This is definitely something to keep in mind while traveling through open areas below tree line. Click here to see the MIN post.

Recent new snow and moderate to strong southwest winds have developed storm and wind slabs. These have buried a variety of old surfaces including surface hoar, facets, sun crust on steep solar aspects and wind slabs. Below, the mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. Particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.