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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 2nd, 2013–Jan 3rd, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Rockies.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Wednesday night and Thursday: An upper ridge persists on the region bringing dry conditions, moderate to strong winds from the W and an inversion dissipating in the afternoon bringing temperatures above the freezing level between 2000 m. and 2500 m. Friday: Traces of snow are forecasted with moderate winds from the W and dropping freezing levels to 300 m. Saturday: Similar conditions are expected with lighter winds from the SW and slightly warmer temperatures than the day before (around -7 C in the alpine).

Avalanche Summary

No new recent observations.

Snowpack Summary

Surface layers (windslabs in alpine lee areas, cornices and loose snow in sheltered areas) may become weak with solar radiation and forecast warming temperatures. A generally settled upper snowpack overlies two or more buried crusts. The December crust is found 70-140 cm below the surface and the November crust/facet layer is near the base of the snowpack. Recent snowpack tests have shown little reactivity on these layers, apart from in the Flathead Range near Fernie, where there is a lingering possibility of triggering a deep avalanche in specific thin, rocky snowpack areas. Check out the forecaster’s blog for more discussion on this.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.