Hatcher Pass

Lawinenprobleme

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  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Likely

  Größe

  1–2

  Strong to extreme winds have been reported gusting southeast up to 93 mph overnight at 4500'. Generally, winds have been strong out of the east/southeast, gusting 40-60mph since January 5th with a significant bump last night.  Only 1" of new snow was reported on Monday, and we got duped overnight with warmer and wetting conditions than expected.  Despite the low amount of snow available to transport, we expect ALL OF IT to have been transported to leeward aspects. Due to the duration and intensity of wind, expect southeast winds to have loaded and crossloaded a larger portion of the compass and well below ridgeline.  Natural avalanches will be possible today. Human triggered avalanches will be likely on southwest to northeast aspects at upper elevation. Expect wind slabs 6-10 inches thick and likely to trigger on slopes 35 degrees and steeper.  Wind slabs that form on either firm bed surfaces or recently formed weak sugary snow (NSF near surface facets from recent cold weather) will be more reactive and have the potential to propagate further.

  Pay close attention to wind transported snow and avoid steep wind drifted terrain. Shooting cracks and audible collapses are indicators of instability. Look for hard snow sitting over weaker snow, smooth and rounded or lens shaped features. New snow in the forecast today will make identifying wind slabs more challenging.

  Travel protocols will be essential today. We will be choosing to travel one at a time and spacing out through avalanche terrain, paying close attention to utilizing safe zones well out of the way of the potential runout of avalanches, avoiding crowded slopes, and be digging test pits to improve the accuracy of our slope scale assessments and go-no-go decision making. Conservative choices will be key today, avoiding the largest and broadest slopes, and avoiding terrain traps.

  

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  Storm Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–1.5

  As the storm shifts this morning, expect winds to diminish and temperatures to trend slightly cooler.  We are expecting enough of a southwest tilt to see new precipitation for Hatcher Pass today. By the end of the day, model discrepancies vary between 5 and 8 inches of new snow, with 8 to 12 inches expected by early morning Wednesday.  Expect STORM SLABS to build throughout the day. By the end of the day, it will be possible to human trigger small storm slabs on all aspects, on slopes 35 degrees and steeper at upper elevation.  We expect storm slabs to bond well with existing surfaces due to the warm temperatures with this storm, which will limit the size and number of avalanches we expect to see today. Natural avalanches are unlikely.