Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 29th, 2017 8:00AM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeA human triggered avalanche occurred yesterday involving two people. Expect the avalanche hazard to increase with building winds and precipitation.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Cloudy with snow developing this morning and an alpine high of -3C today. Ridge winds are forecast to rise to 30km/h gusting to 65km/h. Depending which forecast is correct we could see between a trace and 10cm of snow by tomorrow morning.
Snowpack Summary
Variable thickness wind slab should be expected along the lee of ridges and cross loaded areas. Sun crusts are present on steep solar aspects and well settled powder may be found in sheltered terrain. Storm interfaces down 25-40cm are bonding in most, but not all locations and are still producing planar results in stability tests.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday afternoon skiers reported observing another group remote triggered a size 2 slab from 30m+/- away at the 2300m elevation of Cheops North 5, N asp. 2 skiers were involved but not buried or injured. The slide was 30cm deep, 20m wide and ran approximately 200m. There were three size 2 slabs observed in the highway corridor.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs exist at ridge-top and on cross-loaded alpine and treeline features. Given the right location they may be triggered by skiers. They are of most concern in high consequence locations such as steep terrain.
Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.Avoid unsupported slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 30th, 2017 8:00AM