Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 4th, 2016–Jan 5th, 2016

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
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.

Regions

South Coast.

There's a lot uncertainty regarding the timing and intensity of snowfall forecast for Tuesday. When it does arrive, new wind slabs are expected to form.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Expect up to 5cm of new snow to fall on Tuesday with an additional 5cm possible on Tuesday night. Overcast skies are forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. Ridgetop winds will be moderate from the southeast with Tuesday's snowfall, becoming light by Wednesday and Thursday. Freezing levels should sit at valley bottom on Tuesday, and then rise to about 1000m on Wednesday and Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed. Looking forward, new wind slab activity is expected in higher elevation lee terrain over the next few days. The expected size and distribution of new wind slab avalanches is really tough to pin down at this point due to uncertainty in the weather forecast.

Snowpack Summary

By Tuesday, up to 5cm of new snow will overlie a medley of old surfaces which include a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects in the alpine, stubborn wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, and well-developed surface hoar in sheltered areas. Winds are expected to redistribute these new accumulations into soft wind slabs in high-elevation lee terrain. The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well-settled.

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.