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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2019–Jan 10th, 2019

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

More snow, wind and rising temperatures are creating a widespread storm slab problem. Dial back your exposure to avalanche terrain as the storm rolls through.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Snow, accumulating 20-30 cm. Strong south wind. Freezing level rising above 1300 m.THURSDAY: Snow, accumulating 10-20 cm. Strong south-southwest wind. Freezing level 1600 m.FRIDAY: Flurries, up to 10 cm accumulation. Moderate south wind. Freezing level rising above 1600 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate south wind. Freezing level above 2000 m.More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Several small wind slabs were triggered by skiers near ridge crest on Monday. On Wednesday, size 2 storm slab avalanches where triggered by explosives and skiers. Additionally, a large (size 2) cornice failed under the weight of a person. Incoming weather is expected to create new storm slabs.

Snowpack Summary

20-40 cm new snow adds to the previous 150+ cm of settled storm snow. Another 20 cm is expected by Friday morning as freezing levels rise. New snow, wind and warming are expected to build new storm slabs. Cornices are also likely to grow larger.The new snow will bury old wind slabs on a variety of slopes at alpine and treeline elevations. At treeline and below, two weak layers exist in the upper 2 m of the snowpack. These layers consist of surface hoar (feathery crystals) in more sheltered areas and a crust on solar aspects and on all aspects below 1600m.In the lower snowpack, a crust/facet (sugar snow) layer is now over 2 m deep. There have been no recent reports of avalanches on this layer, but it may still be reactive to heavy loads (such as a cornice fall) in isolated areas.

Problems

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.

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.