Continental

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1.5–3

  The upper snowpack is like a layered cake made up of old hard wind slabs and layers of sugary facets. After weeks of strong winds, the snow surfaces are highly variable and the hazard can be difficult to assess. The most likely place you may encounter unstable snow is in protected areas, lee slopes that have been loaded by recent wind, and in steep extreme terrain. This avalanche problem is not likely to show signs of instability and pit tests can be misleading. The best way to mitigate this problem is to choose simple terrain, ride slopes one at a time, and space out when climbing on steeper slopes.

  

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–2.5

  Warming temperatures throughout this week are beginning to put stress on south aspects. Many of these slopes still have a winter snowpack due to unseasonably cold weather, but with temperatures on the rise these slopes will begin to shed in the form of wet loose avalanches. There are many weak layers within our snowpack and these wet loose slides could stress layers deeper in the snowpack and create stepdown avalanches that are much larger and more dangerous. Watch for roller balls and moist snow surfaces as this is the first indication that a slope is heating up. Avoid this problem by staying off and away from south facing slopes in the afternoon.

  We saw our first cornice fall on Tuesday. This is an additional concern that comes with the warming temperatures. Limit time spent under cornices and steeper rocky terrain especially if it has been in the sun. Cornice and rockfall is a serious hazard in the springtime.

  

• 

  Deep Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Unlikely

  Größe

  2.5–3.5

  Weak snow near the ground is increasingly common as you move North through our forecast zones, with the Continental zone being the most concerning. Although it still remains unlikely to trigger this layer, areas that have been scoured from strong northeast winds now have a shallower snowpack, making this layer closer to the surface and potentially easier for a rider to trigger.

  This is a low-likelihood but high-consequence problem most likely to be triggered in steep, rocky terrain and areas where the snowpack is thin or scoured. Triggering this layer directly is unlikely at this time, but avalanches that start in the upper snowpack could step down to the basal weak layer.  There is a high degree of uncertainty regarding the poor structure at the base of the snowpack.