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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2021–Jan 2nd, 2021

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

Regions

Glacier.

New Year's resolution: ski more powder!

Watch for building storm slabs today especially if the storm comes in early

Weather Forecast

Flurries accumulating 5cm today with rising temperatures and winds picking up to strong from the SW. 10cm overnight with winds peaking early Saturday morning before the bulk of the snow arrives during the day and overnight saturday. We may have as much as 50cm by Sunday morning before the temperatures plummet and the storm abates.

Snowpack Summary

A new surface hoar layer (Dec 26) is preserved, in isolated areas, under 30cm of recent snow. The Dec 13 surface hoar can still be found down 100cm and the Dec 7 crust down 120 with weaker, facetted snow between them. At the base of the snowpack are several early season crusts including the prominent Nov 5 with facets in between them.

Avalanche Summary

No new slab avalanches have been observed in the highway corridor, or reported from the back country recently. Sluffing has been reported and has caught a few skiers and riders out in steep unsupported terrain features.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday

Problems

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.