Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 16th, 2013 9:36AM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions
Weather Forecast
A mix of sun and cloud is expected for the forecast period. Extreme northwest winds are expected to ease to strong on Friday, and then become light on Saturday. The possibility of an inversion will exist throughout the period; however, alpine temperatures should stay below freezing.
Avalanche Summary
No new significant avalanche observations have been reported from the region.
Snowpack Summary
Light amounts of loose snow may overlie windslabs which exist in unusual locations due to strong northwesterly winds. Below this around 60cm of settled snow rests on a myriad of old surfaces that were buried on January 4th. These surfaces include a sun crust on steep solar aspects, surface hoar in sheltered locations at treeline and below, and facets everywhere else. The bond at this interface seems to have strengthened somewhat with time. The overlying slab has also settled significantly.The midpack is reportedly well settled and strong with one or two (location specific) crusts deep in the snowpack. These crust/facets combos are largely dormant, with the only concern being triggering from a shallow snowpack area or with a heavy trigger.Cornices in the region are reported to be large and potentially unstable.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 17th, 2013 2:00PM