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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 18th, 2012–Dec 19th, 2012

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

Regions

Glacier.

Moderate to strong winds overnight have created soft windslabs near ridgelines in alpine and treeline elevations.

Weather Forecast

Cool and clear today with a short snow storm on Wednesday with up to 15cm of new snow, followed by dry cold air from the North on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

At treeline and above, soft windslabs have formed due to 50k winds at ridgelines. Elsewhere, 40cm of loose storm snow overlies a well settled snowpack. The Nov28 surface hoar down 80cm and is found in some locations.� The early Nov crust is widespread and down 1.5m. Tests on these layers indicate they would be hard to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday avalanches were observed up to size 3, and were dry slabs running to 1/2 fan. Expect more dry avalanche activity due to the moderate to strong southerly winds overnight.

Confidence

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.

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.