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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2013–Dec 4th, 2013

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Data is very limited from this region. If you're out in the snow, please send your observations to [email protected]

Confidence

Poor - Due to the quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Wednesday: Clear and cold. Overnight lows dipping to -10 and daytime highs near -5 at treeline. Winds are moderate to strong from the North-Northwest. Thursday: Mainly sunny. Treeline temperatures should hover between -5 and -10 and winds remain moderate to strong from the North. Friday: Mainly sunny. Temperatures could drop slightly and northerly outflow winds continue.

Avalanche Summary

Recent observations near Shames include a few natural wind slabs to size 1.5 on steep convexities from northerly outflow winds on Monday. Previously a couple large glide slab releases were reported in steep terrain (up to size 3). Expect wind slabs to remain touchy on South and West aspects from continued outflow winds.

Snowpack Summary

Around 40 cm of recent storm snow has fallen in some areas. This new snow may not bond well initially to the previous snow surface, especially where it sits on a crust. Northerly outflow winds picked up on Monday forming dense wind slabs in exposed lee terrain and scouring windward terrain. Rain at lower elevations (below 1000-1200 m) last week saturated the lower snowpack forming a solid rain crust, now down up to 40 cm depending on elevation. Average snowpack depths near treeline are around 100 cm.

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.