Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 27th, 2013 8:20AM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Fair - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Mainly sunny skies / Light winds / Freezing level at 1100mSunday: Overcast skies with no snowfall expected / Moderate west winds / Freezing level at 1100mMonday: Light snowfall / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at 1300m
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region with 130cm reported at treeline in the Northern Cascades but only about 60 cm along the Duffy. In general, the snowpack across the region is significantly thinner than average for this time of year. Terrain below treeline is still mostly below threshold for avalanche activity.At upper elevations steady southwest winds and modest accumulations have formed new wind slabs which may be reactive on steeper, unsupported lee slopes. Below treeline rain has moistened what little snow there is. Previous weak interfaces within the snowpack appear generally well bonded and have been unreactive to recent snowpack tests. The exception to this seems to be in the north of the region where touchy surface hoar buried on December 12th sits about 30cm below the surface. This seems to be the interface to watch as the overlying slab develops. Early season riding hazards such as rocks, stumps and logs are lurking below the surface at treeline elevations and below.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 28th, 2013 2:00PM