North Columbia

Stormy weather will return later this week. Until then, remain cautious on sun-exposed slopes and in steep north-facing terrain.

High -

MONDAY NIGHT: Clear, light north wind, alpine temperatures drop to -5 C.TUESDAY: Sunny, light wind, freezing level up to 1800 m.WEDNESDAY: Increasing cloud with flurries starting late in the afternoon, light southwest wind, freezing level up to 1800 m.THURSDAY: Scattered flurries bring 5-15 cm of new snow at higher elevations, 20-40 km/h southwest wind, freezing level up to 2000 m.

A few small wind slabs were reported in north alpine terrain over the weekend. On Friday, a few larger skier triggered slab avalanches (size 2-3) were reported on north-facing slopes above 2300 m. These avalanches highlight the fact winter-like conditions can still be found in shaded alpine terrain.

Most slopes have entered a daily melt-freeze cycle, with the exception of north-facing terrain above roughly 2000 m. On these colder slopes, you may find 10-30 cm of dry powder or isolated wind slabs. These same slopes may also have a layer of faceted grains buried 50 to 70 cm below the surface. This layer has been responsible for a few large isolated avalanches last week. Elsewhere, the surface has been melting each day and then freezing into a hard crust overnight. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.