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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2022–Feb 18th, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast.

A thick and supportive crust makes avalanche activity unlikely.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Thursday night: freezing levels around 1200m. Light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow and light to moderate westerly winds. 

Friday: flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow with light westerly winds. Freezing levels around 1000m.

Saturday: stormy weather with up to 20cm of snow and moderate west winds. High of -2 at 1200m.

Sunday: mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected. Light winds and a high of -2 at 1200m.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday a few size one natural wet loose avalanches were observed on steep south and east facing terrain at 1200m.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of recent snow overlies a widespread crust which exists on all aspects and at all elevations. Thin new wind slabs may have formed in exposed terrain at higher elevations. 

The late-January melt-freeze crust is now down around 40 cm and is reported to be knife hard and up to 30 cm thick. This crust extends to at least the top of treeline and is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow. 

The middle and lower snowpack are considered well settled and strong.

Terrain and Travel

  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.