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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 2nd, 2012–Jan 3rd, 2012

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

Regions

South Coast.

Confidence

Good - -1

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: 5-10cm of new snow (perhaps more in the Cascades) with freezing levels around 1500m rising as high as 2000m in the afternoon, and strong southwesterly winds. Wednesday: 10-30cm of new snow with freezing levels around 1300m and continued strong southwesterly winds. Thursday: 5-10cm of new snow with freezing levels back to valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the past 24 hours.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temperatures have helped to settle out weaknesses within and under last weeks storm snow, however wind slabs are still fresh and weak. Various mid-pack persistent weaknesses lurk in the northern part of the region. Recent compression tests produced moderate to hard, but often sudden shears on surface hoar down around 60cm at treeline in the Duffey Lake area. Elsewhere, mid-pack facets have also been giving sudden results in snowpack tests, especially where they are associated with a crust, which extends into treeline elevations. Basal facets remain a concern in shallow rocky areas.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.