Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 31st, 2013–Jan 1st, 2014

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

4: High

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Regions: Glacier.

Incremental snow loading and steady winds have bumped up the avalanche hazard. Minimize your overhead exposure to avalanche paths and use more cautious travel techniques.

Weather Forecast

Snow fall should be tapering off today into tomorrow with lingering flurries. Temperatures will remain at around -5 and winds will be in the moderate range from the south west at 1800m. A more significant system arrives on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

25cm of new storm snow. Upper meter is settling. Mid to lower snow pack is rounding out and becoming more well settled. The Dec. 8 surface hoar/facet layer, now down 90cm, has been mostly unreactive in snowpack tests. The Nov. 28 surface hoar layer however, down ~125cm, still well preserved in certain areas is giving hard sudden planar results.

Avalanche Summary

2 natural size 2.0 slab avalanches yesterday in the highway corridor from steep gully features.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds associated with this recent snowfall have been strong enough to create wind slabs at higher elevations and in exposed areas below tree line.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Avoid freshly wind loaded features.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Storm Slabs

Another 25cm of new snow overnight. Snow loading has been steady for the past 5 days with instabilities in the upper snowpack.

Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong inicators of unstable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The presence of buried surface hoar remains a concern for backcountry riders. The potential for a large avalanche on this layer still exists.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 2 - 4