Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Inland
Watch for touchy wind slabs that have formed from recent winds.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind-loaded snow.
- Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
Avalanche Summary
Skiers were able to trigger pockets of wind slab on north-to north-west facing slopes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
Variable winds have built slabs on many different slopes, primarily in the alpine but also in lee features at treeline. Recent snow (around 20-30 cm) overlies various surfaces including a freezing rain crust (which was reported as being hard in the alpine and breakable below treeline), old sun crusts and wind slabs.
A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found in the upper snowpack. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.
The lower snowpack is generally well-settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, light to moderate southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -2 C but colder in the valleys, freezing level below valley bottom with inversion conditions.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy, moderate to strong southerly winds, alpine temperature near 2 C, inversion conditions with cold valley air and above-freezing level between about 1500 m and 2500 m.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy with intermittent precipitation, accumulation 1-3 mm, moderate to strong southerly winds, alpine temperature near 2 C, inversion conditions with cold valley air and above-freezing level between about 1000 m and 2500 m.
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Recent winds from variable directions have formed wind slabs in lee features. Wind slabs are likely more widespread in alpine terrain.