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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Poor - Due to limited field observations
Weather Forecast
Sunday should see cooling temperatures and an end to significant precipitation, although snow could linger into Monday morning. Tuesday & Wednesday the region should be under a westerly zonal flow with short lived disturbances - only a few cm expected. The next system hits the coast Wednesday, but likely not till evening.
Avalanche Summary
There are no new reports from the region. Please send us your observations: [email protected]
Snowpack Summary
I suspect pockets of wind slab behind ridges & ribs at alpine and treeline elevations. I also suspect storm slabs on steeper terrain, unsupported slopes, or convex rolls. Deeper in the snowpack is a layer of facets (sugary snow) which formed during the cold mid-January drought. The combination of newer, warmer, cohesive snow above a thin, weak, rotten snowpack is a bad combination.
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.