Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Northwest Inland.
Wind slabs are likely to be encountered at upper elevations and may be reactive to human triggering, especially in lee features.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 2-4 cm / southeast winds, 30-40 km/h / alpine low temperature near -11SUNDAY - Cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm / southeast winds, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -4MONDAY - Flurries, 2-4 cm / southwest winds 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -4, low temperature near -8TUESDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / light west winds / alpine high temperature near -7, low temperature near -9
Avalanche Summary
There have been no recent reports of avalanches, however information from this region is limited. Tell us what you see by posting to the Mountain Information Network! (MIN)
Snowpack Summary
A few centimeters of new snow adds to the 50-90 cm of snow that has fallen over the past week. Strong winds have likely formed wind slabs throughout the region. Deeper and more sensitive wind deposits are likely to be found at higher elevations. The storm snow sits on a weak layer of surface hoar (feathery crystals) and facets (sugary snow) that formed during the dry spell in early December. Information is very limited in this region about how well the new snow is bonding to this layer.Deeper in the snowpack, there are several crusts including an early season crust with facets near the bottom of the snowpack.
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.