Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 12th, 2012 10:05AM
The alpine rating is Loose Wet and Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain for the entire period
Weather Forecast
Friday: Clouds and a few cm of snow, falling as rain below about 1400 m. Freezing level around 1600 m. Light northerly winds.Saturday: cloudy with sunny breaks. Light, variable winds. Freezing level around 1500 m.Sunday: Warm, dry and cloudy. Freezing level rising to 1800-2000 m. Light winds, increasing from the SW by evening as a low pressure system approaches.
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, several size 1-2 loose moist avalanches were triggered by solar warming or by people. On Sunday, a natural and human-triggered wind slab cycle occurred on north-west and west aspects following overnight winds. A size 3 natural slab is suspected to have stepped down to the March crust on Monday. It failed on a sun-exposed south-west aspect at 2300 m. There has also been some cornice fall.
Snowpack Summary
A generally strong and deep spring snowpack exists. A crust layer from late March, buried within the upper 2 m of the snowpack, remains a concern. Recent warm weather has led to moist snow on all aspects to about 2200 m, which is expected to have formed a crust, now covered by a small amount of new snow. On north aspects above about 2400 m, dry snow may still be found. Large cornices threaten slopes and glide slab releases are a possibility, especially in steep rocky terrain.
Problems
Loose Wet
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 13th, 2012 9:00AM