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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2020–Jan 11th, 2020

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

Regions

South Rockies.

Strong winds are maintaining elevated avalanche danger at all elevations. Tune in to local wind loading patterns and seek out sheltered low density snow for the best, safest skiing and riding.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Moderate to strong southwest winds, easing into the morning.

Saturday: Cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow, increasing a bit overnight. Light southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -8.

Sunday: Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow, continuing overnight. Light to moderate south winds. Alpine temperatures cooling to around -20.

Monday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light southwest winds, becoming moderate or strong at ridgetop.

Avalanche Summary

A few more large (size 2.5) wind slabs were controlled with explosives in the Castle area on Thursday. 

Another notable report came from a observers witnessing a skier trigger a small windslab that managed to step down to the basal snowpack to produce a very large (size 3) deep persistent slab. This occurred in a shallow, rocky gully in the Castle area. Its crown fracture was 30-100 cm deep.

Reports from the Castle area on Tuesday and Wednesday showed explosives control yielding storm slab and wind slab releases to size 2.5. Most crown fracture depths were around 40 cm but some larger results were up to 80 cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm brought about 25-40 cm of new snow to the region over the early part of this week. This snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong south and southwest winds in exposed areas at higher elevations.

The recent snow buried older wind slabs and other wind-affected surfaces in open areas at all elevations. This older, wind-affected snow forms the upper part of an increasingly consolidated mid-snowpack, which overlies a generally weak basal snowpack.

The bottom 10-20 cm of the snowpack consists of facets and deteriorating crusts. This basal layer has gradually been gaining strength, but potential still exists for large triggers in thin, rocky areas to trigger avalanches at this depth.

Terrain and Travel

  • Keep your guard up at lower elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.

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.