Avalanche forecast

Transitional

Haines Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Pay attention to recent signs of wind loading, including visible blowing snow, and slopes steeper than 30 degrees that have been loaded with thicker deposits. These areas will look smooth and convex without a lot of texture, they may even be where the riding looks best, but are exactly where wind slabs are most likey to be triggered. Be cautious of rocks and shallow coverage, along with terrain traps that could increase the consequences of being caught in a slide.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Expect fresh wind slabs to form as north winds begin to load leeward southerly alpine slopes 0.5-1' deep from a total of 3" of new snow Nov. 30th at 2,500'.  On Nov. 28th south winds produced flagging off high peaks that have created a harder to trigger and more stubborn wind slab where deposits were drifted onto north aspects. A widespread hard crust that formed last week when freezing levels rose to over 4,000' could increase the the potential slab size depending on the terrain. 

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Precipitation during early season storms produced a deeper snowpack at higher elevations above 4,500'; while lower elevations saw fluctuating temperatures with rain on snow and above freezing temperatures. On Nov 12th, widespread surface hoar was observed at the pass.  These weak snow layers could still be burried within the snowpack, especially in wind protected terrain, and require careful evaluation on slopes greater than 30 degrees.  South winds picked up on Nov 29th with visible wind transport of snow observed at peaks and ridges. This built wind slabs on north aspects with a high degree of uncertainty for what sliding surfaces are underneath.  Besides wind slab over other objective hazards such as hitting rocks may increase our risk for the day. 

Help us make sense of what's going out there by reading and submitting observations.

Regions covered