Avalanche forecast

Lyngen

NVE
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Avalanche danger

All elevations
3 · Considerable
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Considerable avalanche danger persists as the storm continues, and naturally triggered avalanches may occur. The avalanche danger is highest above the freezing level, where precipitation falls as snow. Strong winds will build wind‑slabs, especially in northeast‑facing lee slopes. These slabs are expected to stabilize relatively quickly due to mild temperatures, but should be considered unstable when freshly formed. Avalanches in the wind‑slab may overload deep persistent weak layers and could result in large avalanches.

Below the freezing level, rain will further moisten the snowpack. In the low lying areas the snowpack is already saturated and is expected to handle the rain well. Slightly higher in the terrain, where the snowpack is still layered and some new snow from Saturday remains, wet avalanches may still release naturally.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent weak layers

    • Above 600 m
  • Wind slab

    • Above 600 m
  • Wet snow

    • All elevations

Snowpack Structure

Snødekket bærer preg av mildværet de siste ukene. Under 400-500 moh er snødekket smelteomvandlet og grovkornet. Høyt til fjells ligger det tørr, vindpåvirket snø. Den dominerende vindretningen den siste tiden har vært vest–sørvest. Før uværet traff regionen fantes et aktivt kantkornlag høyt i snødekket, som ga både drønn og utslag på stabilitetstester. Laget ble antatt å være mest utbredt i Ø- og N-vendt terreng over ca. 600 moh. Det var registrert mange drønn mellom 450 og 700 moh, men også høyere til fjells er det observert kantkornlag under fokksnø.

Dypere i snødekket finnes det kantkorn knyttet til skarelag fra 5.–8. februar og 18. januar.

Status etter nedbør og mildvær er usikker grunnet manglende observasjoner.

Avalanche Activity

Considerable avalanche danger persists as the storm continues, and naturally triggered avalanches may occur. The avalanche danger is highest above the freezing level, where precipitation falls as snow. Strong winds will build wind‑slabs, especially in northeast‑facing lee slopes. These slabs are expected to stabilize relatively quickly due to mild temperatures, but should be considered unstable when freshly formed. Avalanches in the wind‑slab may overload deep persistent weak layers and could result in large avalanches. Below the freezing level, rain will further moisten the snowpack. In the low lying areas the snowpack is already saturated and is expected to handle the rain well. Slightly higher in the terrain, where the snowpack is still layered and some new snow from Saturday remains, wet avalanches may still release naturally.

Betydelig skredfare vedvarer og naturlig utløste skred kan fortsatt forekomme. Skredfaren er størst over mildværsgrensen, der nedbøren kommer som snø. Kraftig vind vil bygge opp fokksnøflak – særlig i nordøstvendte leheng . Disse ventes å stabilisere seg relativt raskt på grunn av milde temperaturer, men de bør ansees som ustabile når de er helt ferske. Skred som løsner i fokksnøen vil kunne overbelaste dype vedvarende svake lag som kan resulterer i store skred.

Under mildværsgrensen vil regn fukte opp snødekket ytterligere. I lavlandet er snødekket allerede godt smelteomvandlet og ventes å tåle regnet godt. Men litt høyere i terrenget hvor snødekket fremdeles er lagdelt og det finnes litt nysnø på overflaten er det mulig at våte skred løsner naturlig.

Tendency

Avalanche danger is determined by the amount of new snow and wind. Where the heaviest precipitation combines with strong winds, fresh wind‑slabs will form as snow is transported into lee slopes. These slabs may release naturally or be very easy to trigger while snow showers are ongoing. They are expected to stabilize relatively quickly due to mild temperatures, but should be considered unstable when freshly formed.

There is considerable uncertainty regarding persistent weak layers at higher elevations. These layers likely lie deep beneath the wind‑drifted snow in many areas, making them theoretically harder to trigger. However, large avalanches on this layer cannot be ruled out if the snowpack receives a significant additional load, such as from cornice failures or wind transport.

In the lowlands, the snow is homogenous, resulting in lower avalanche danger as temperatures drop toward the evening.

Bulletin data: Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), varsom.no (NLOD)

Regions covered