Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 18th, 2013 10:10AM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Initially, the approaching frontal system will spread light-moderate precipitation amounts with rising freezing levels. Towards the end of the forecast period a cooling, drying trend will take place before the big warm-up next week.Friday: Overcast with light precipitation amounts. Ridgetop winds will blow moderate from the SW and freezing levels will rise to 2000 m.Saturday: Overcast with moderate precipitation amounts. Ridgetop winds will blow moderate from the NW and freezing levels near 1500 m then falling to valley bottom overnight.Sunday: Mostly sunny skies with a cooling, drying trend. Freezing levels will rise to 1000 m by the afternoon.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, no new avalanche activity was reported.On Tuesday, In the adjacent region a size 2 slab avalanche was skier triggered on a NW aspect at 2500 m. The hard slab failed approximately 3 m above the skier. There were no injuries. Additionally, skiers triggered a size 3 slab on a buried crust on an east aspect in the alpine on Monday.
Snowpack Summary
Over the past 2 days, melt-freeze crusts have formed on solar aspects. North aspects remain dry, with new surface hoar development and surface faceting. Recent storm snow and variable winds have formed wind slabs at treeline and above. Cornices on ridgelines have grown large, and pose a threat to slopes below.A weak interface buried early April is down about 60-120 cm and consists of a crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on high-elevation northerly aspects. The slab above this interface may be reaching it's tipping point with additional loading from forecast snow and wind.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 19th, 2013 2:00PM