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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 26th, 2021–Jan 27th, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead.

As wind picks up Wednesday afternoon be on the look out for fresh wind slabs. Remember a small loose dry avalanche (or thin wind slab) can have big consequences in steep terrain due to cliffs and other terrain traps.

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

Scattered snow flurries with light to moderate southerly wind for the rest of the week.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mainly cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries, light and variable wind, treeline temperatures around -12 C.

WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and clouds with scattered flurries starting mid-morning, 2 to 5 cm new snow, light to moderate southerly wind, treeline temperatures around -7 C.

THURSDAY: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, trace to 3 cm new snow, light southerly wind, treeline temperatures around -5 C.

FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, 2 to 5 cm new snow, light southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -5 C.

Avalanche Summary

Loose dry avalanches (sluffs) in steep alpine and treeline features are gaining mass with incremental light snowfall amounts and near surface faceting and are sliding easily on surface hoar and old hard surfaces. Isolated wind slabs may start to develop as south/southeasterly wind increases on Wednesday afternoon.  

Snowpack Summary

A few more cm off snow late in the day on Wednesday will add to the 5-15 cm recent low density snow that has buried surface hoar and other old surfaces. In the alpine, new snow sits on top of layers of hard wind slab, scoured regions, sastrugi and isolated pockets of soft snow. A hard crust is found below 1700 m. Cold temps continue to promote near-surface faceting that slowly softens hard surfaces, develop facets at the crust interface and weaken cornices.   

A solid mid-pack sits above a deeply buried crust and facet layers near the bottom of the snowpack (150-200 cm deep), which are currently unreactive. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
  • Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.