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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 2nd, 2013–Feb 3rd, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Sunday: The ridge will start to weaken, allowing the next frontal system to move in. Skies will generally be cloudy and no significant precipitation is expected. Ridgetop winds moderate from the West. Alpine temperatures -3.0 and freezing levels around 1300 m. Monday: Back to overcast, grey skies with ridgetop winds blowing light from the SW. Alpine temperatures -4.0 and freezing levels at 1300 m. Tuesday: The next frontal system moves onto the coast. Light snowfall amounts, accompanied by moderate ridgetop winds from the South. Alpine  temperatures near -4.0 and freezing levels hovering around 1500 m.  

Avalanche Summary

No natural avalanche activity has been reported.

Snowpack Summary

The recent snow seems to be settling and gaining strength although wind slabs may be found on lee slopes (N-SW) behind ridges and ribs and may be touchy to rider triggers. Down 10-30 cm sits a persistent interface comprising of crusts, facets and surface hoar crystals. Recently, this layer has been touchy in sheltered areas at treeline and below (where the surface hoar had a chance to form). Tests done on this layer have produced moderate-sudden planar and resistant planar results and should remain on your radar. Down deeper sits another surface hoar layer (40-80 cm) which seems to be gaining strength with very little reactivity on it.Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer exists, which is now unlikely to be triggered, except perhaps by heavy triggers in unsupported, shallow, rocky terrain where more faceting has taken place.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.