Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Continued strong north winds have loaded lee features in the alpine with lots of facetted snow that's available for transport
Weather Forecast
Staying cold for the next 2 days with highs of -17. The north wind is forecast to ease off today and a stronger low pressure system is due Sunday night to turn the temperature up a bit with accompanying cloud cover and traces of snow on Monday.
Snowpack Summary
The cold has been weakening cornices and the upper snowpack. Widespread wind effect in the alpine has made for variable travel. The January weak interface down 70-100 is reducing in strength with increasing facetting. The mid and lower snowpack are still relatively strong having rounded under previous mild temperatures and snow load.
Avalanche Summary
Several skier triggered and natural windslabs were observed from both lee and crossloaded features yesterday to sz 2.5.
A group of skiers had a close call Wednesday on the South face of Corbin Peak, triggering a couple of large avalanches on the Jan 24th persistent weak layer.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
North winds have been forming windslabs in unusual locations. Use extra care in evaluating the aspect of sub features in the terrain you are travelling. Wind loaded slabs can form with crossloading on runs that predominantly face north
- Be careful with reverse loaded pockets of wind slab at ridgeline.
- Use caution on steep lee and cross-loaded slopes
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
The January 24th weak interface may be triggerable on solar aspects, where facets and/or surface hoar is sitting on a suncrust.
The bond at this interface may be weakening, with cold temps promoting facetting.
- Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3