South Columbia

Triggering large avalanches remains possible. Carefully evaluate conditions before venturing into bigger terrain.

High

THURSDAY: Clearing throughout the day with freezing levels around 1800m and light variable winds. FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with light snow bringing as much as 5-10cm. Freezing levels reaching 1800m and light southwesterly winds. SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy with continued light snowfall totalling 5-10cm of accumulation. Freezing levels should drop to 1600m and winds are expected to be moderate from the southwest.

Reports from Tuesday include several natural 40-60cm thick storm and wind slab avalanche up to Size 3. Recent natural persistent slab avalanche activity was also observed, with a report of a 1-2 day old Size 2, which released well below the top of the south facing start zone, suspected to have run on the early January surface hoar sitting on a crust. A continued cycle of natural loose wet sluffs reaching Size 2 on sun-exposed slopes, as well as cornice collapses, were also reported.

Wet surface snow has refrozen into a supportive crust in most places; however, dry soft snow with new surface hoar growth may be found at treeline elevations on shaded aspects. Storm snow weaknesses down 40-60cm remain sensitive. Avalanche professionals are still monitoring the persistent weakness buried early January, which is now down 80-120 cm. In most places it is no longer sensitive to light triggers. However, in specific locations it still produces hard, but sudden results in snowpack tests.