Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Thursday
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Light snowfall / strong southwest winds / freezing level at about 450m throughout the dayFriday: Very light snowfall / light westerly winds / -12.0 at 1500mSaturday: Light snowfall / light to moderate westerly winds / -12.0 at 1500m
Avalanche Summary
1 size 3 natural was reported in the high alpine in the Burnie Glacier area. There was also a size 2 reported in the same area at treeline. Both of these avalanches were triggered by natural cornice fall.
Snowpack Summary
Heavy rain up to about 1000 metres on Saturday night ended around 0800 Sunday. Cooling since the storm has created a rain crust up to about 1200 metres. There is about 235 cm at 1500 metres. There is an old rain crust that is buried down about a metre that is knife hard and showing old facets above and below. The snowpack is well settled below the rain crust down to the ground. The snowpack in the alpine is highly variable. Strong winds with almost every storm this winter have scoured ridges and knolls down to bare ground, and exposed boulders on some slopes.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 4
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 6