7:30, Tuesday February 26, 2008
Hello and good morning, this is Toby Weed of the
Current Conditions: Expect mostly sunny skies, calm or light northerly winds, and
warmer temperatures today. Currently
under partly cloudy skies, the CSI weather station on
Avalanche Conditions: It
was another active day in the
Although
I suspect that heating on Saturday destroyed the frost crystals and sugary snow
on many slopes especially at lower elevations, light snow fell with little or
no wind earlier in the weekend, and in some areas it now may be nicely
preserving weak layers that formed on or near the snow surface during the
recent high pressure. (snow photos)
Solar
warming could quickly heat up already somewhat moist snow on sunny mid and
lower elevation slopes. Wet avalanches
will be likely on many steep slopes in the middle of the day as the fresh
surface snow is warmed and becomes saturated.
Watch for roller balling and other wet activity on similar slopes, and
leave or reevaluate if the snow on the slope you’re on gets sloppy. Remember that wet snow conditions can
deteriorate rapidly during the day, often making the exit from upper elevations
in the backcountry more dangerous than the entrance.
Even
smallish stiffer wind slabs, new snow soft slab avalanches, and wet and dry
point-release avalanches might pick up steam and could run fast and far today
on existing hard or crusted bed surfaces, especially on big slopes.
.
Bottom Line: There’s
generally a MODERATE
danger in the backcountry, and triggered slab and point-release avalanches are possible on upper
elevation slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.
Solar warming today is likely to
cause a CONSIDERABLE danger of wet
avalanches, especially at lower and mid elevations, on steep sunny slopes with
saturated snow. Use good snow assessment
and safe travel techniques to minimize your risks and avoid and stay out from
under steep sun-warmed slopes with saturated snow.
Mountain Weather:
A high pressure system will rule
the weather pattern for the work week, but we’ll also see periods of cloudiness
and a few snow flakes. Light winds will allow solar warming to heat concave
south facing slopes, like solar ovens, but I don’t expect it to get overly warm
in the mountains today. Daytime
temperatures will start to rise in the next couple days. A storm is probable over the coming
weekend.
Upcoming avalanche class: February
29th-March 1st, Avalanche Basics,
Check out the images page for photos of some of
this season’s avalanches.
Go to
the Avalanche Encyclopedia if you have any questions about terms I use in the advisory.
I'm very interested to
know what you're seeing out there. Please e-mail observations to me
at [email protected] or leave me a message at 755-3638, especially if you see or
trigger an avalanche in the backcountry. We keep all observations confidential.
This advisory will
expire in 24 hours from the posting time.
The information in this advisory is from the
U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This
advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always
occur.