Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Inland
The primary avalanche concern is wind slabs in exposed terrain.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
A natural avalanche cycle occurred on Friday of last week in response to storm snow loading. There have been no subsequent reports of avalanches since then, but bear in mind there are not many observations coming in.
Snowpack Summary
A skiff of fresh snow sits above a variety of crusts on all but high north aspects.
Last week avalanches were failing on weak layers roughly 40 cm below the surface. The weak layers included surface hoar on shaded aspects at high elevations and hard crust layers below treeline.
Near the bottom of the snowpack, weak and sugary facets are found in shallow, rocky snowpack areas. Storm slabs have stepped down to these facets and producing very large avalanches in northern parts of the region.
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Light snow, 2-4 cm. Freezing level around 300 m. Strong southeasterly winds.
Friday: Flurries. Freezing level around 400 m. Moderate southeasterly winds, diminishing in the afternoon.
Saturday: Dry with some sunshine possible. Freezing level around 700 m. Light easterly winds.
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Light amounts of new snow accompanied by fresh winds will set up localized pockets of wind slab behind exposed terrain features on mainly west to northeast aspects. It's possible a small slide could trigger a deeper weakness in the snopwpack.