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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 6th, 2013–Feb 7th, 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

Purcells.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Thursday: A weak upper trough moves through the region bringing unsettled conditions and light snow accumulations of 5 cm. Ridgetop winds will light and blowing from the West. Treeline temperatures near -4 and freezing levels will be around 1100 m. Friday: Ridge of high pressure moves in with residual moisture and cloudy cover bringing only trace snow amounts. Ridgetop winds will switch and blow light from the NW. Treeline temperatures near -6 and freezing levels will be in the valley bottom.Saturday: Ridging continues accompanied by a fast moving, short lived weak disturbance. Trace of snow expected with ridgetop winds blowing moderate from the NW. Treeline temperature near -8 and freezing levels remain in the valley.

Avalanche Summary

Natural loose snow sluffing from steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs exist in the alpine and at treeline on lee slopes and behind ridgelines. The recent storm slab continues to settle over old interfaces comprising of surface hoar, crusts and facets down 30-50 cm. However, areas that have buried hoar surface seem to be most touchy. Continued freezing temperatures overnight have helped to strengthen the moist surface layers that developed during warm period last weekend. The mid-pack is generally well settled. The average snowpack depth at treeline elevations is near 130 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.

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.