_26 MARCH 1998_ _SOUTH COAST/VANCOUVER ISLAND_ _WEATHER _Clear breaks, heavy snow showers, cooler temperatures and light to moderate winds have characterized the past few days. Overnight low on Wednesday night/Thursday morning was -8 degrees at 2000m, winds in the 25-40kmh range from the south & south west and an additional 5-10cm of snow in the alpine. During the clear breaks temperatures rise rapidly on south facing aspects. _SNOWPACK_ On Vancouver Island in particular some areas have near record height of snow. It will take a while for the spring energy to penetrate the snowpack but already most areas report a strong homogenous coastal snowpack with the exception of near surface crusts that are giving clean shears and new slab that is not reactive right now. _AVALANCHES _A size 2.5 on Picnic run near Whistler from a cornice trigger was one of the few avalanches reported on Wednesday. _DANGER CONSIDERABLE in the alpine, LOW below treeline_ _TRAVEL ADVISORY _Careful terrain choice and route finding will significantly minimize the hazard over the weekend. The Considerable danger is posted in recognition of the small slabs that are widespread and may react on the crust. When the sun shines there will be lots of afternoon surface instability. _NORTH COLUMBIA_ _WEATHER_. Spring conditions prevail and the weather systems are fairly fast moving although the grey skies have been rather persistent with only short clear breaks in the lee of the mountains. Accumulated snow amounts during the week have ranged from 30-60cm in the northern parts of the Cariboos and 15-30cm in the southern part of the region. The weekend will start a little cooler, minimums to -8 at 2000m but warm by Sunday afternoon with freezing levels up to 2000m. _SNOWPACK _Well developed winter slabs in the alpine and at ridges are sitting on an assortment of spring layers near surface, including the crust which produces clean shears and variable bonding depending on aspect and elevation. Mid-pack is strong in all locations observed but at the base facets and remnants of depth hoar can still be found at profile sites. The corn snow has gone away for a while and is not expected to return for at least another week. Whoomphing reported again in the Esplanade Range at ridge line elevation. _AVALANCHE _Lots of avalanches, everything from spring sludge flow at around 1200-1500m to helicopter remote triggered avalanches. Some avalanches in the alpine running on surface hoar and graupel, up to size 3.5 near Blue River. A couple of avalanche involvements were reported to the Centre, no complete burials or injuries. Numerous storm releases during the intensity of heavy snow squall activity. _DANGER CONSIDERABLE in the alpine_ _TRAVEL ADVISORY _It’s a touchy snowpack when a helicopter landing can trigger an avalanche adjacent to a landing area. This late winter storm instability may settle out quite quickly but I am a little nervous, looking at the trend of the reports, that this may persist in isolated locations through the weekend. _SOUTH COLUMBIA_ _WEATHER _Rapidly changing_ _spring conditions and in some places rapidly accumulating amounts of snow. For example on Thursday morning Kootenay Pass had 20cm in 4h, Bobbie Burns had 60cm storm snow and Kokanee Glacier Park about 30cm. Winds have been principally from the south up to moderate strength. Temperatures have cooled a little in the westerly flow of weather with a range at 2000m of 1 to -5 degrees. Unstable cool weather to continue for the weekend with warming on Sunday afternoon. Clear breaks will warm south aspects quickly. _SNOWPACK _Alpine snowpack has gone from corn to cold with new slabs on various soft layers. Some are thin surface hoar layers but unsettled decomposing fragment layers, up to 15cm thick, also lie under the cohesive slab. The mid-pack is strong but temperatures in the alpine snowpack are still in the -2 to -4 degree range at 2000m on north aspect and -1 to -2 degrees on south aspect. The deeper snowpack still has facets at the base that do not contribute to conclusive or repeatable results in field tests. There are clean shears in the newer snow layers. _AVALANCHES _Numerous avalanches on a variety of aspects and elevations. Northerly aspects are getting more slab activity from the southerly wind. Southerly aspects below treeline are having loose snow avalanches on steep terrain as soon as there are any sunny breaks. Most avalanches up to size 2. _DANGER CONSIDERABLE in the alpine and on steep south aspects below treeline._ _TRAVEL ADVISORY _A serious avalanche involvement is reported outside this region near Smithers. The group had no self rescue gear but the person caught was found when on hand was seen waving. He is seriously injured after riding 500m through rocks and was evacuated by helicopter to Smither hospital. Spring travel rules and regulations apply for avalanche terrain and some winter characteristics in the new slab and storm instability must be considered. _ROCKIES_ _WEATHER_. All the Rockies have received light to moderate snowfalls in the past few days, amounts from 5-20cm. Spring transition weather for the past few days with warmer temperatures and minimums to minus 5degrees at 2000m and moderate to strong winds from the south-west. Trace to light snow amounts for the weekend but lots of clear sunny skies. _SNOWPACK_. New slab in the alpine is creating an instability. Field test indicate the instability is confined to the new snow layers and not overloading the weak base to failure. Cooler temperatures have slowed the settlement rates but direct radiation on steep south aspects is causing weak surface snow. In the Fernie area there are several crusts in the top 70cm and an isothermal snowpack below 1600m. _AVALANCHES _Jasper Park reports several size 2 below cornices, in Banff near Mt Balfour there were size 2 to 2.5 avalanches with 30cm crown and Sunshine had numerous size 2 with explosives, ski cutting and naturals on lee and cross loaded slopes. _DANGER CONSIDERABLE in most alpine terrain._ _TRAVEL ADVISORY _Careful route finding around the well defined instability should open up good ski touring options. The Canadian and USA avalanche fatalities now total 18 and 21 respectively. In the alpine there’s another six weeks of winter..