Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Regions
Glacier.
Snow is once again in the forecast! Watch for slab development as we head towards a period of natural avalanches in the coming days.
Weather Forecast
A low pressure system is poised to stall over the area for the next 3 days delivering 10cm today, 10cm tonight, 22cm on Friday and 10cm on Sunday. For today, freezing levels climb to 1300m with and alpine high of -4 and SW winds 20km/h. Ridge winds will pick up this afternoon and gust to 50km/h with the arrival of a front.
Snowpack Summary
10cm of new snow overnight with moderate S winds. New snow sits atop hard wind slabs in the alpine and exposed areas at treeline. The January 17 surface hoar is buried 30-50cm and is most reactive between 1400-1900m, and where it overlies a crust on steep solar aspects. A reloaded crust from November has been reactive on steep south aspects.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity observed in the HWY corridor yesterday. On Tuesday there was a skier accidental size 2.5, on a steep, rocky, unsupported, South facing slope. 2 involved, 1 partial and 1 full burial, see MIN.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
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.