Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 2nd, 2013–Jan 3rd, 2013

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Glacier.

The snowpack is beginning to facet and become looser, and the snow sluffs easily on steep terrain. Be cautious around cornices and glide cracks.

Weather Forecast

A blocking ridge will dominate the weather pattern for the next few days. Not much precipitation is expected in the near future. Some warm temperatures may occur at higher elevations today.

Snowpack Summary

Surface snow is facetting with cold temps. Recent tests indicate that the interface down ~30cm between the new and old settled snow will fail with moderate force but is resistant to move. The Nov. crust is down 160cm collapses with a hard force in snowpack tests but has yet to produce avalanches. Snowpack depths are below average.

Avalanche Summary

Direct morning sun on easterly aspects caused a large chunk of cornice to fail on Cheops Mtn, triggering a size 2.5 slab on the 31st. Skiers reported sluffing of the top 20cm on steep slopes. A small slab was ski cut at Balu Pass on an East aspect yesterday down 10-15cm.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Loose Dry

The loose upper snow sluffs easily on very steep slopes. So far, these have been small (size 1) skier and solar triggered loose avalanches. On large steep slopes, particularly gully features, these may gain mass and become larger.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2