Continental

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1.5–3

  We have been tracking and monitoring the1/26 weak layer for nearly 2 months now. The sensitivity of this problem has fluctuated over this time, depending on stresses added to the upper snowpack. Currently, the likelihood of triggering this layer is low, although the consequences of an avalanche would be high. 

  This problem is very hard to track due to variable distribution and poor visibility in snow pits. Assessing individual slopes will be difficult due to the absence of signs of instability even where the hazard is present. Manage your terrain by staying off large connected faces and runout zones, spacing out, and riding one at a time to mitigate this problem. Previously windloaded terrain will be the most hazardous. Consider your risk vs reward when choosing to travel on or below large, steep alpine slopes. Conservative terrain selection is recommended to avoid this low likelihood but destructive problem that is hard to assess.

  Windslab: Scattered windslabs are becoming unlikely for a human to trigger, but there may be a few stubborn pockets out there with weak faceted snow underneath that could be sensitive to a human trigger. 

  

• 

  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.