Summit Lake

Problèmes avalancheux

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Likely

  Taille

  1–2

  The storm that arrived overnight is forecast to ramp up throughout the day bringing a few inches of new snow, strong east winds, and above freezing temperatures at mid and upper elevations. The pass is already above freezing. All of these conditions will put a lot of stress on layers of buried weak, faceting snow. Fresh wind slabs will likely stress these layers, especially as wind and snowfall ramp up in the afternoon. This will increase the size of wind slabs forming over these weak layers making avalanches larger and easier to trigger. The last large wind event triggered a large avalanche that failed on a weak layer of snow near the near the bottom of the snowpack on Summit Mtn.

  These weak layers have been found all over Summit Lake, however they will be stressed the most on steep, wind loaded slopes where wind slabs will be forming in areas exposed to the wind including under ridges and in cross loaded gullies. Stiff, hollow snow and shooting cracks underneath you are clues that you are traveling on a wind loaded slope. Snow sheltered from the wind will be the safest option today. 

  Loose Wet: The chance of triggering a loose wet avalanche will increase later in the day as above freezing temperatures climb into upper elevations accompanied with rain. Rollerballs are a good indicator that the snowpack is capable of triggering one of these avalanches.

  

• 

  Glide Cracks

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Possible

  Taille

  2–3

  Glide avalanche activity could increase in the afternoon as the rain/snow line is expected to reach 2,500’.  Minimize time underneath glide cracks or stay away from them to avoid this problem. 

  New glide cracks have been forming on all slopes at mid and upper elevations. This storm is forecast to bring warm temperatures and rain that will likely increase the chance that more of these “brown” cracks will open and release as avalanches. They are unpredictable when they release and can be large and destructive sending debris to valley floors. Carefully navigate past these cracks or avoid them, especially since they may be hard to see in the storm.