Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Inland
With warm temperatures forecast at higher elevations we know avalanche conditions will become increasingly sensitive. Conservative trips and careful terrain selection is recommended.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind-loaded snow.
Avalanche Summary
No recent information of avalanche activity has been received.
Snowpack Summary
20 to 30 cm of powdery snow is preserved in wind protected areas; however, in alpine and wind exposed locations there is variable wind effect and probably some slabs. This 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 and Saturday Night: Southerly winds are ushering in very warm air at treeline elevations and higher creating a strong temperature inversion.
SUNDAY: Strong temperature inversion continues with treeline and alpine temperatures around +5 C with moderate southerly winds. Valley fog with sunshine above. Dry with southerly winds from the southeast.
MONDAY: Similar conditions to Sunday but a little cooler with mid and high level clouds. Winds decreasing to light and backing to the east.
TUESDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, and temperatures slightly cooler again. The inversion breaks down as the warm ridge moves out of the region.
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Recent winds from variable directions have formed wind slabs in lee features. Wind slabs are likely to become more reactive with warm temperatures, at least in the short term.