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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2021–Jan 13th, 2021

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

Regions

Glacier.

The avalanche hazard will increase steadily this afternoon, and peak overnight tonight with the passage of the cold front, scale back your exposure accordingly.

Weather Forecast

A warm front today and then a cold front tonight. This will be followed by high pressure through Thursday.

Today: Light snow (8cm). Alpine High -3 C. Ridge wind light S. Freezing level (Fzl) 1300m.

Tonight: Snow (24cm). Low -5 C. Extreme SW wind.

Weds: Clearing. High -6 C. Strong West wind. Fzl 1000m.

Thurs: Sunny periods. Low -14 C, High -6 C.

Snowpack Summary

5-10cm of new snow is covering a thin crust from sun and/or rime in exposed terrain, as well as surface hoar up to 10mm in the sheltered areas at treeline and below. The Dec 26 surface hoar has been hard to locate down 70cm. The Dec 7th surface hoar/suncrust/facet layer is down 1.5m. Crusts (with some facetting) persist at the base of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A few large (size 2.5) natural avalanches where observed from the steep gullies on the North face of Mt MacDonald on Monday, these were likely triggered by a spike in wind and snowfall midday.

Confidence

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.