Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 4
The new snow itself should not pose much of a threat where the buried Persistent Weak Layer of snow does not exist. Where it does exist (upper elevation more northerly facing slopes) even the small amount of new snow combined with a little wind has increased the possibility of triggering a deep avalanche. The only safe bet is to avoid those steep upper elevation northerly facing slopes until we are sure the snowpack is stable. Here are a few thoughts on how things might play out this week:
- I am hopeful that the string of warm days this week is enough to settle and strengthen the snowpack to the point that it is stable. Warm temperatures help stabilize the snowpack more so than mid winter cold temperatures.
- The flip side is that when temperatures get too warm, they can actually decrease the strength of the snowpack. It is very possible that later in the week temperatures may get warm enough to weaken the snowpack and we could see a round of natural avalanches breaking into the Persistent Weak Layer from Jan/Feb. The one thing we have on our side is that this is a gradual warming trend which allows the snowpack to slowly adjust. However, it looks awefully warm by next weekend so we'll want to pay close attention to the state of the pack by then.