H
Payette AvalancheCenter
Avalanche Advisory for Friday, December 26, 2008
1:04:05 PM
Avalanche Danger is High
Summary
Good Afternoon this is John Groom form the Payette Avalanche Center with the Avalanche
Advisory for the weekend of December 26, 2008. This weekend the Avalanche hazard is
High. A high avalanche hazard means Natural and Human triggered avalanches are likely.
Unstable slabs are likely on a variety of aspects and slope angles. Travel in Avalanche
terrain is not recommended at this time, if you do go out remember to stay well away
from steep slopes and avalanche runout zones which may stretch far out into flat areas
at the base of steep slopes.
We have issued an Avalanche Warning for the West Central Mountain area. This advisory
and Warning does not apply to ski area or highway operations where avalanche control
work is routinely done.
Concern #1
Since our last advisory on Wednesday we’ve received another 1.5 to 2 feet of new snow in
the high country. This past storm came in warmer and wetter than previous snowfalls
making our delicate backcountry situation even worse. We’ve now got 4 to 5 feet of
recent snow sitting on top of a faceted weak layer formed during early December when we
had long periods of little to no snowfall. This weak layer is sitting on top of a bed
surface composed of mixed ice lenses and buried surface crusts creating a perfect
avalanche scenario. The slides that have occurred so far are breaking out large, some,
hundreds of yards wide and running the full slope length depositing debris 8 to 9 feet
deep. These aren’t the type of slides that you’re going to ski or ride off of, they’re
not little wind slabs or surface instabilities, they’re the full on real deal if you get
caught you’re most likely going to be buried deeply.
Concern #2
This weekend we’ve got more snow on the way with strong chances of precipitation
throughout early next week. Friday night we could see 1 to 3 inches of new snow
accumulation with another 3 to 5 inches possible on Saturday. However, Warming
temperatures and gusting southerly winds are the real concern with this storm. Saturday
and Sunday both winds and temperatures could reach into the 30’s. Our current buried
weak layer is only going to become more troubled by additional snowfall, warming temps
and wind loading. This problem will stick with us into the near future and serious
caution will be necessary for anyone venturing into possible avalanche terrain. If
you’re unsure of your ability to recognize avalanche terrain now is not the time to play
in the backcountry.
Recent Avalanche Activity
A number of natural avalanches have occurred over the last few days. Strong Southerly
winds have been loading predominantly Northern and Northeastern aspects, but wind gust
have been shifting around the compass. Small wind slabs and surface instabilities
breaking out can easily cause slides to step down into the buried weak layer located 4
to 5 feet down in the snowpack. Thursday’s storm created widespread snowpack collapsing
and conditions will only worsen over the next couple of days as more weather moves into
our area.
Current Conditions
Deep unstable conditions and widespread collapsing caused us to turn away from skiing
anything steep enough to turn down. Good turns may be found on lower angle slopes, but
getting there on ski’s is going to be hard going. Snowmobilers have the best chance for
deep snow riding right now and getting on the slopes is going to be hard to resist, but
please if you’re out riding try to remind your friends of the seriously unstable
conditions and stick to the flatter terrain.
MountainWeather
Our next Alaskan storm system will move into the area late tonight through Saturday
bringing snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches Friday night and another 3 to 5 on
Saturday. This storm is not expected to be as warm and wet as our last storm, but strong
Southerly winds could bring gusts into the 30’s and daytime Temperatures are expected to
warm into the 30’s. Nighttime lows will be in the teens. Strong chances of precipitation
remain throughout the beginning of next week.
*Friends of the Payette Avalanche Center will be hosting a free basic avalanche
awareness class January 23&24 in McCall at the McCall Outdoor Science Center. Contact
Dave Bingman at (208) 634-6749 for more information.
Avalanche Advisory for Friday, December 26, 2008
1:04:05 PM
Avalanche Danger is High
Summary
Good Afternoon this is John Groom form the Payette Avalanche Center with the Avalanche
Advisory for the weekend of December 26, 2008. This weekend the Avalanche hazard is
High. A high avalanche hazard means Natural and Human triggered avalanches are likely.
Unstable slabs are likely on a variety of aspects and slope angles. Travel in Avalanche
terrain is not recommended at this time, if you do go out remember to stay well away
from steep slopes and avalanche runout zones which may stretch far out into flat areas
at the base of steep slopes.
We have issued an Avalanche Warning for the West Central Mountain area. This advisory
and Warning does not apply to ski area or highway operations where avalanche control
work is routinely done.
Concern #1
Since our last advisory on Wednesday we’ve received another 1.5 to 2 feet of new snow in
the high country. This past storm came in warmer and wetter than previous snowfalls
making our delicate backcountry situation even worse. We’ve now got 4 to 5 feet of
recent snow sitting on top of a faceted weak layer formed during early December when we
had long periods of little to no snowfall. This weak layer is sitting on top of a bed
surface composed of mixed ice lenses and buried surface crusts creating a perfect
avalanche scenario. The slides that have occurred so far are breaking out large, some,
hundreds of yards wide and running the full slope length depositing debris 8 to 9 feet
deep. These aren’t the type of slides that you’re going to ski or ride off of, they’re
not little wind slabs or surface instabilities, they’re the full on real deal if you get
caught you’re most likely going to be buried deeply.
Concern #2
This weekend we’ve got more snow on the way with strong chances of precipitation
throughout early next week. Friday night we could see 1 to 3 inches of new snow
accumulation with another 3 to 5 inches possible on Saturday. However, Warming
temperatures and gusting southerly winds are the real concern with this storm. Saturday
and Sunday both winds and temperatures could reach into the 30’s. Our current buried
weak layer is only going to become more troubled by additional snowfall, warming temps
and wind loading. This problem will stick with us into the near future and serious
caution will be necessary for anyone venturing into possible avalanche terrain. If
you’re unsure of your ability to recognize avalanche terrain now is not the time to play
in the backcountry.
Recent Avalanche Activity
A number of natural avalanches have occurred over the last few days. Strong Southerly
winds have been loading predominantly Northern and Northeastern aspects, but wind gust
have been shifting around the compass. Small wind slabs and surface instabilities
breaking out can easily cause slides to step down into the buried weak layer located 4
to 5 feet down in the snowpack. Thursday’s storm created widespread snowpack collapsing
and conditions will only worsen over the next couple of days as more weather moves into
our area.
Current Conditions
Deep unstable conditions and widespread collapsing caused us to turn away from skiing
anything steep enough to turn down. Good turns may be found on lower angle slopes, but
getting there on ski’s is going to be hard going. Snowmobilers have the best chance for
deep snow riding right now and getting on the slopes is going to be hard to resist, but
please if you’re out riding try to remind your friends of the seriously unstable
conditions and stick to the flatter terrain.
MountainWeather
Our next Alaskan storm system will move into the area late tonight through Saturday
bringing snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches Friday night and another 3 to 5 on
Saturday. This storm is not expected to be as warm and wet as our last storm, but strong
Southerly winds could bring gusts into the 30’s and daytime Temperatures are expected to
warm into the 30’s. Nighttime lows will be in the teens. Strong chances of precipitation
remain throughout the beginning of next week.
*Friends of the Payette Avalanche Center will be hosting a free basic avalanche
awareness class January 23&24 in McCall at the McCall Outdoor Science Center. Contact
Dave Bingman at (208) 634-6749 for more information.
