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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 15th, 2021–Feb 16th, 2021

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

Regions

Glacier.

Continued faceting of surface snow and reverse-loading by N'ly winds has kept the danger rating elevated in the Alpine.

Weather Forecast

Continuing cool weather with isolated flurries the next couple of days.

Today: Cloudy with sunny periods, Alp high -10*C, light ridge winds

Tues: Cloudy with sun and isolated flurries, trace amounts, Alp high -11*C, mod W winds

Wed: Cloudy with sun and isolated flurries, trace amounts, Alp high -15*C, mod W winds

Snowpack Summary

The cold has weakened cornices and the upper snowpack. Widespread wind effect in the alpine has made for variable travel. The January 24th weak interface down 70-100 is reducing in strength with facetting due to the cold. The mid and lower snowpack are still relatively strong having rounded under previous mild temperatures and snow load.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous skier triggered and natural windslabs were observed from both lee and crossloaded features over the last few days to sz 2.5.

A group of skiers had a close call Wed on the S face of Corbin Peak, triggering a couple of large avalanches on the Jan 24th persistent weak layer. This problem hasn't gone away and still lurks on big alpine faces.

Confidence

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.