Summit Lake

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Likely

  Größe

  1–2

  As the winds pick up this afternoon, a fresh batch of wind slabs up to a foot deep will be forming at upper elevations. With the strength of the winds, it is also possible that wind slabs will form in the treeline elevation band. These can form very quickly and become sensitive to the weight of a skier or rider. Keep an eye out for active wind loading, shooting cracks, and hollow pillows of snow to identify areas with fresh wind slabs. Using test slopes to check how sensitive wind slabs are to the weight of a skier or rider is a great way to assess them before entering more consequential terrain. 

  Cornices will become more likely to fail as they start to get wind loaded again this afternoon with the incoming storm system. 

  Glide avalanches are still a concern across the forecast area. Try to avoid spending time underneath glide cracks to limit your exposure to this unpredictable hazard. 

• 

  Deep Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Unlikely

  Größe

  2–3

  We are continuing to track weak layers in the snowpack across the Summit Lake forecast area. The lack of recent avalanche activity in this area is due to the lack of snowfall during recent storms. Another storm will impact the area starting this afternoon, bringing winds averaging 40 to 50 mph from the east and 3-6" of snowfall. This amount of new snow is not likely to cause widespread avalanches on buried weak layers. However, the combination of new snow and wind transport could cause larger avalanches in localized areas.

  The timing of the bulk of the snowfall and wind is expected to be in the afternoon and evening, so the increased likelihood of larger avalanches shouldn't have much of an impact during the day today. Keep an eye out for active wind transport at upper elevations and higher than expected snow totals today as signs that the avalanche danger is increasing sooner than expected. We recommend a patient and conservative mindset when dealing with persistent weak layers. Sticking to lower angle slopes is the best way to avoid this problem.