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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 26th, 2019–Dec 27th, 2019

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Triggering wind slab avalanches is possible around ridge features and other steep alpine terrain.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries bringing 5-10 cm of snow, 30-50 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine temperature drop to -10 C.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 30-40 km/h wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -4 C. 

SATURDAY: Scattered flurries with 5-15 cm, 40-70 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -2 C.

SUNDAY: Cloudy, 20-30 km/h wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -6 C.

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent reports of avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

Flurries and snow will add to the 10-20 cm low density snow around the region. In exposed areas, moderate south-southwesterly winds have redistributed snow and developed wind slabs around ridge features and into the alpine.

Reports suggest there are two buried layers of surface hoar in the upper snowpack, both 25-50 cm below the surface. In windward terrain the snow may be scoured down to a hard crust from November. In leeward terrain, this crust is 40-80 cm deep. Older crusts can be found deeper in the snowpack and are generally breaking down. In areas with a relatively thin snowpack, the base of the snowpack likely consists of weak faceted grains.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.

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.