Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 16th, 2017 8:00AM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeA warm, intense storm system is headed our way. This will be a rapid change and will be a shock to the cold snowpack. Freezing levels are expected to stay at valley bottom, but danger will rise very quickly if the snow turns to rain.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Today expect a mostly cloudy day with isolated flurries and an alpine high of -5'C. The storm front is expected to arrive late in the day with up to 25cm expected overnight and increasing SW winds. On Tuesday expect another 20cm with freezing levels rising to 1200m. By Wednesday freezing levels are forecast to rise to 1700m with another 15cm.
Snowpack Summary
Thin windslabs exist at ridgecrest and on lee features in the alpine, and have occasionally have been reactive on unsupported features. Cold temps have facetted the surface snow and broken down old windslabs in many areas. A new surface hoar layer up to size 6 has grown at treeline and below, but are smaller at higher elevations.
Avalanche Summary
Recent natural avalanche activity has been limited to steep, unskiable terrain. Skiers reported sluffing of the weak facetted snow when skiing steep terrain.
Confidence
Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Wind Slabs
Thin stiff windslabs exist along ridge crests and cross loaded features formed by moderate SW winds. These slabs are variable in distribution so take time to assess slopes independently. Avoid convex rolls and unsupported terrain.
Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 17th, 2017 8:00AM