Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 10th, 2012 4:00PM
The alpine rating is Loose Wet and Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeWith little to no freeze expected overnight and freezing levels near 3600m on Wednesday, avalanche danger will climb rapidly and could hit HIGH on steep solar aspects. Avalanche control on EEOR and Mt. Buller planned for Wednesday at 11:00am
Summary
Confidence
Good
Weather Forecast
Freezing levels will stay elevated through the night and spike again on Wednesday to at least 3400m. It is quite possible that there will not be a significant overnight freeze. Winds are expected to be light from the south and temperatures at 3000m will reach +5.
Avalanche Summary
Widespread solar triggered sluffing occurred through the day up to size 2.5, beginning on SE aspects and progressing to S and W aspects. Several large slab avalanches occurred in the alpine on southerly slopes. These slides were in the range of size 2.5 and 3.0, had fracture depths in excess of one meter and wide propagations.
Snowpack Summary
Crusts exist on all aspects at all elevations, except for true north aspects which have crusts below 2400m, and dry snow above. The snowpack is settling rapidly with the very warm temperatures. The deeply buried weak layers of surface hoar and basal facets are responsible for numerous large, destructive avalanches over the past few days. Cornices are large.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose wet slides up to size 2.5 occurred today on solar aspects. These slides were gaining mass and running far in some cases. Pay close attention to terrain that is overhead as you travel and be aware of your regroup spots.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The Feb surface hoar and basal facets are a concern in the snowpack. Solar radiation and large loads, such as cornices, have triggered avalanches up to size 3.5 recently. The spring transition could see more slides stepping down to these layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 11th, 2012 9:00AM