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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2016–Jan 4th, 2016

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

You don't have to be an avalanche expert to submit to the MIN. If you've been in the mountains, the backcountry community would love to know what you observed!

Confidence

Moderate

Weather Forecast

On Monday expect a mix of sun and cloud and light southeast winds. On Tuesday and Wednesday, light flurries and moderate to strong southeast winds are possible. That said, there's significant model disagreement on amounts. Freezing levels should stay at valley bottom for the forecast period.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

Snowpack surfaces are highly variable. Temperature inversions and solar radiation have recently come into play and a melt-freeze crust can be found on steep, solar aspects at treeline and above. On shaded slopes, 25-40 cm of storm snow from Boxing Day continues to facet, and new surface hoar has been reported at all elevations. In areas where recent winds have been light, shaded slopes will likely provide unconsolidated powder. In areas where winds have been stronger, reactive wind slabs may exist, especially in areas where the the slab overlies surface hoar buried by the boxing day storm.Professionals in the region are still keeping an eye on a few other surface hoar layers that developed throughout December which are now buried in the top 100cm. Although these layers may be gaining strength, they are worth keeping an eye on, especially on steep unsupported slopes at treeline and below. In colder and shallower snowpack areas watch for weak basal facets.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.