South Columbia

Good

Wednesday: Light snow early then a mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level is around 1200 m. Winds are light to moderate from the northwest. Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level is near valley bottom. Winds are light from the northwest. Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level could jump as high as 1400 m. Winds are light to moderate from the southwest.

On Monday there were also a few natural and rider triggered slab avalanches up to size 2 from recently wind loaded features in the alpine (NE-SE aspects). There were also a few reports of natural cornice failures that triggered slab avalanches up to size 2. There was one report of a remotely triggered size 1.5-2 avalanche from the Monashees. It was actually 2 avalanches. Both were triggered from flat terrain. One released above and one released below the group but no one was involved.

The snow surface consists of new wind slab in exposed alpine terrain, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar and/or facets on shady slopes. Below this 20-40 cm of settled storms snow sits on a surface hoar and sun crust layer that developed at the beginning of February. This layer continues to be reactive to rider triggers. Deeper down (between 40-80 cm) sits an old sun crust and well preserved surface hoar that was buried on January 23rd. This persistent slab has been reactive and easily triggered over the past few days, especially from solar aspects and at treeline and below treeline over steeper convex slopes. During recent snowpack testing this layer has shown moderate compression results with sudden planar to resistent planar characteristics. This layer is getting stronger over time and less likely to trigger, but if triggered it will still produce a significant avalanche. The mid-pack is generally well settled and strong.