Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 1st, 2017 8:04AM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeHappy New Year! Watch for freshly formed windslab and reverse loading along wind exposed terrain.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy with N-E moderate to strong winds and cold alpine temps of -17C today. Clear and cold for Monday, Tuesday with more NE flow of cold air.
Snowpack Summary
60cm+ of storm snow was initially redistributed by mod-storng S wind Friday. Overnight 8hrs of strong N-NE wind has worked to reverse load alpine and wind exposed treeline features. 80cm of snow now overlies the Dec 18th facet interface, which was reactive to artillery control on Friday. Expect fresh reactive windslab in the alpine all aspects.
Avalanche Summary
There was a widespread natural avalanche cycle on Friday up to size 3 on all aspects and elevations. Yesterday no new avalanches were reported or observed.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate to strong winds, first from the S Friday and now from the N-NE, have redistributed 60cm+ of recent storm snow. Dec18 Facet interface down 80cm is a major feature of the snowpack and should not be discounted in your evaluation.
Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
Since Thursday we have received 60cm+ snow at 1900m elevation which is settling into a slab. Expect the forming slab to be most reactive at and above TL. The storm slab did step down to the Dec 18th interface with artillery and explosive control.
The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 2nd, 2017 8:00AM