Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
South Coast.
Warm temperatures and solar exposure will promote reactivity in a range of avalanche problems on Monday.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated rain showers. Light south winds. Freezing level to 1800 metres with alpine temperatures around -1.Tuesday: Cloudy with scattered wet flurries and up to 5 cm of new snow in the alpine. Moderate south winds. Freezing level to 1500 metres with alpine temperatures of -3.Wednesday: Cloudy with scattered wet flurries and a trace to 5 cm of new snow in the alpine. Light west winds. Freezing level to 1400 metres with alpine temperatures of -4.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported, but there have been limited observations lately.Please enter your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN). See here for details.
Snowpack Summary
Rainfall saturated the upper snowpack over Saturday night at most elevations. In high alpine locations, new snow likely formed new storm slabs and wind slabs which may remain reactive over the short term. Any new snow accumulations at higher elevations will sit above either a moist snow surface or a refrozen crust. Slab reactivity will be greater and may persist longer where a crust interface exists. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.
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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.