Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 2nd, 2021 8:00AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is high. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.

Chris Gooliaff,

Email

The winds finally arrived and have spiked the avalanche danger, reloading avalanche paths that released early in the storm.

I'd recommend the ski hill today. Limit your exposure to any overhead exposure.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Storm front will pass this morning, bringing cooler temps, gusty winds, and flurries.

Today: Cloudy/flurries, 5cm, FZL 1500m, mod gusting strong SW winds

Tonight: Cloudy/flurries, 10cm, FZL valley bottom, Alp low -11*C, light N winds

Wed: Isolated flurries, FZL 500m, Alp high -11*C, light/mod W winds

Thurs: Flurries, 10cm, FZL 800m, mod W winds

Snowpack Summary

A heavy, 40-50cm storm slab sits atop the previous drought layer (surface facets, surface hoar, wind affect, and sun crust). Overnight winds are rapidly building these into touchy slabs at all elevations. Previously dormant layers deeper in the snowpack (surface hoar/crust) may be waking up with the sudden heavy burden.

Avalanche Summary

Artillery control overnight produced numerous avalanches to sz 4. A natural avalanche cycle is currently flushing numerous avalanches up to sz 4 in the highway corridor, some within the same paths that were controlled 6hrs ago.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

40-50cm of storm snow, warm temps, and winds that have finally arrived are building touchy storm slabs on the previous drought layer. Natural avalanches are showing the new storm slab is not bonding well to it.

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

Expect loose dry avalanches in steep terrain. The underlying facets will allow for a greater snow mass to accumulate and flow fast and far.

  • If triggered dry loose point releases can form deeper deposits in terrain traps.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 3rd, 2021 8:00AM