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South Columbia

South Columbia

Date Issued
Saturday, 13 March 2010 06:00 PM
Valid Until
Tuesday, 16 March 2010 06:00 PM
Next Update
Monday, 15 March 2010 06:00 PM

S. Selkirks & S. Monashees

Sunday Monday Tuesday
Alpine 3 Considerable 3 Considerable 3 Considerable
At Treeline 3 Considerable 3 Considerable 3 Considerable
Below Treeline 3 Considerable 2 Moderate 2 Moderate

Purcells

Sunday Monday Tuesday
Alpine 3 Considerable 3 Considerable 3 Considerable
At Treeline 3 Considerable 3 Considerable 3 Considerable
Below Treeline 3 Considerable 2 Moderate 2 Moderate

Primary Concerns

Persistent Slab

  • Which Slopes?

    The orange segments show which aspects are most affected by the primary concern. If the icon is completely orange, this means the primary concern exists on all slopes.

  • What Elevation Zone?

    Alpine, Treeline and Below Treeline are separate zones with distinct characteristics. The arrow points to the zones most affected by the primary concern. For more information on elevation zones, click here.

  • When?

    Indicates the time of day where the primary concern is likely to be a problem. Avalanche conditions can change between shady, cool mornings and sunny, warm afternoons. If both icons appear, it means the primary concern is present all day.

All ranges experienced 30-80 cm. This covers the March 7 surface hoar and further loaded a number of weak surface hoar layers that have been active in during the past month. None of these layers have had time to adjust to the new load. Triggering avalanches should remain easy on most steep slopes.

Wind Slab

  • Which Slopes?

    The orange segments show which aspects are most affected by the primary concern. If the icon is completely orange, this means the primary concern exists on all slopes.

  • What Elevation Zone?

    Alpine, Treeline and Below Treeline are separate zones with distinct characteristics. The arrow points to the zones most affected by the primary concern. For more information on elevation zones, click here.

  • When?

    Indicates the time of day where the primary concern is likely to be a problem. Avalanche conditions can change between shady, cool mornings and sunny, warm afternoons. If both icons appear, it means the primary concern is present all day.

Periods of strong winds redistributed snow into wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline. In some places these slab rest on the surface hoar. Avoid travel in wind loaded terrain.

Wet Slab

  • Which Slopes?

    The orange segments show which aspects are most affected by the primary concern. If the icon is completely orange, this means the primary concern exists on all slopes.

  • What Elevation Zone?

    Alpine, Treeline and Below Treeline are separate zones with distinct characteristics. The arrow points to the zones most affected by the primary concern. For more information on elevation zones, click here.

  • When?

    Indicates the time of day where the primary concern is likely to be a problem. Avalanche conditions can change between shady, cool mornings and sunny, warm afternoons. If both icons appear, it means the primary concern is present all day.

The avalanche danger may reach HIGH on south facing slopes. When the temperature and sun cause the snow to become sticky on steep southerly aspects both point release and wet slab avalanches are possible. On the same slopes and at the same time triggering avalanches will be likely.

Special Message

The Canadian Avalanche Centre has issued an Avalanche Warning for the South Columbia region for Saturday and Sunday. A powerful storm blanketed the region with snow. This is the first real snow storm we've experienced in months. Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be blue sky days. Recognize that blue sky weather and pow have a way of twisting our thoughts causing us to make poor decisions. Right now is when consistent good decision making really counts in the mountains.

Confidence: Good

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Freezing level near 1000 m. Light wind.

Monday: Mostly sunny.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light snow.

Avalanche Activity

Natural, explosive, skier, and machine triggered avalanche to size 3.0 (would easily crush a one ton pickup) were reported Friday. A few of these avalanches were triggered from a distance away.

Skier and sledder triggered avalanches remain probable on steep terrain Sunday and Monday on buried surface hoar layers. Natural avalanche activity may occur where natural triggers, such as falling cornices land on slopes below. We believe that some of these avalanches may be large, size 3 or greater. On south and west facing slopes natural point release and slab avalanches are likely as the surface snow becomes moist or wet in the afternoon due to intense radiation from the Sun.

Travel Advisory

Terrain: Anywhere that got more than 30 cm and wind loading should be treated with caution. Remotely triggered avalanches remain a concern.


Risk Management:  Choose challenging or simple terrain where you have low angle options and can travel well away from steep looming slopes.

Snowpack

30 - 80 cm covers the March 7 interfaces. On north and east facing slopes surface hoar exists and on south and west facing slopes a crust exists. We suspect that the March 7 surface hoar layer is now susceptible to widepread skier and sled triggering. If it isn't the March layer, then one of three other surface hoar layers, the Jan 30, Feb 8 or Feb 24 will probably be triggerable Sunday and Monday. Stability test scores continue to produce moderate sudden planar results in some areas. This is indicative of human triggering.

Prepared by Greg Johnson

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