Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
Tonight and Thursday: Light to moderate snowfall Wednesday and Thursday nights / Strong to extreme west winds / Freezing level at 800mFriday: Light snowfall / Moderate west winds /Â Freezing level at 800mSaturday: Dry conditions with overcast skies / Light to moderate west winds / Freezing level at 1200m
Avalanche Summary
On Monday a size 2 windslab avalanche was skier-triggered in a chute above Crater Lake. The crown was about 30m wide with a maximum height of 80cm. On Tuesday a snowmobiler triggered a size 1 windslab on a slope which was reported to be "normally very stable". Reports suggest that the recent strong winds will be responsible for ongoing windslab activity.
Snowpack Summary
On the surface there are signs of recent intense northwest winds in the alpine and at treeline leaving scoured areas and hard windslabs on lee side of ridges and terrain breaks. A surface hoar layer that was buried at the end of December is now down 60-80 cm, and has become reactive in some areas with recent warming. An otherwise strong mid-pack overlies a weak base layer of facets/depth hoar and the remnants of a crust.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 4
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 4
Deep Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 5