Lawinenlagebericht

Continental

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 9 months ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Expect to find Considerable avalanche hazard in mid to upper elevations today. Avalanches 1-2+ feet deep will be possible where recent storm snow has become slabby and overlies weaker snow. Additionally, fresh windslabs will begin forming today and will be sensitive to human triggers. Cautious route finding and snowpack evaluation are recommended if travelling near avalanche terrain. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1.5–2.5

    Our early-season snowpack contains layers of weak snow underneath a recently formed slab that could produce avalanches up to 1-3 feet deep. Incremental snowfall since Thanksgiving has created 1-2-foot-thick slabs that overlie faceted snow and surface hoar in some areas. Reactivity has recently been observed in pit tests and on test slopes within and below the top 2 feet of snow.  An additional layer of concern at the very bottom of the snowpack has also shown reactivity/propagation in pit tests. Smaller avalanches could possibly step down to ground level, producing larger, more destructive avalanches. Throughout the day and into the weekend, we can expect stress on these layers to increase with new snow loads and deposition of windslabs. You can limit your exposure to this problem by traveling on low-angle terrain and avoiding exposure to steep slopes above. 

     

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2

    The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Thompson Pass from this morning to Sunday morning. Gusty NE winds and snowfall accumulations from 8-16 inches are forecasted for today and will cause the formation of fresh windslabs throughout Thompson Pass, as well as areas to the North and High elevations in Port Valdez. If you see blowing snow, it can be expected that sensitive windslabs are being formed in your area. Expect smaller/softer windslabs to form today and become thicker/harder over the weekend.  Additional snowfall, combined with wind loading, will add stress to our weak snowpack.  Keep in mind that a small windslab avalanche could create the stress necessary to trigger a deeper persistent layer, resulting in a larger, more destructive avalanche.

Avalanche Discussion

The weather for our early season has been mild with little in the way of impactful weather. This is begining to change into this weekend. Moving into this afternoon and evening, increasing NE winds and significant snowfall will be impacting Thompson Pass as well as the Copper River basin. Temperatures are forecasted to plummet with wind chills well below zero. New snow accumulation and wind-drifted snow will stress persistent weak layers while creating fresh, sensitive windslabs. Expect avalanche hazards to be increasing today. 

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