Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 31st, 2012 9:24AM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Fair - Due to limited field observations for the entire period
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Flurries are expected in the morning increasing to heavy precipitation and strong southwestely in the evening. Freezing levels are expected to remain around 1200m. Thursday: Heavy precipitation with 50mm expected throughout the day. Extreme southerly winds and freezing levels as high as 1400m. Friday: Precipitation and wind should ease off with a clearing and cooling trend throughout the day.
Avalanche Summary
Warm temperatures and light to moderate precipitation resulted in several low-elevation natural storm slab avalanches up to Size 1.5 on Monday. Storm slabs continue to be reactive to natural and human triggers.
Snowpack Summary
Total snowpack depths are well above average for this time of year and it won't stop snowing! Recent warm temperatures and upside-down storms created a touchy surface slab. Other weaknesses within and under the 150+cm of recent storm snow create the potential for step-down avalanches, but things seem to be settling rapidly. Strong winds associated with recent storms means large weak wind slabs and cornices on lee and cross-loaded terrain. Most snowpack concerns are limited to the surface layers, however large triggers such as cornice falls and smaller avalanche stepping-down could reawaken deeper persistent weaknesses.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 1st, 2012 3:00AM