Avalanche Activity
• 17. Apr. During the day (+02:00) • Dry slab avalanche • 3 - Large. Spontaneous release • Some steep slopes. SE. Below 1000 masl • Reported yesterday already, had a better look at it today.
Weather
• 2.5 °C • 2.5 deg. @ 780m, kl 11:20
Snow Cover
• 200 cm • 0 cm • Snow line at 0 masl. Layered snow begins at 0 masl • Wet loose snow • Corn snow ("Firn") on S asp at 11:30. 200cm HS at 700m, S-SW asp.
Avalanche Problems
• Loose wet avalanche • Loose snow • Spontaneous release • Possible • 2 - Medium • Many steep slopes E, SE, S, SW, W below 900 masl
• Buried weak layer of faceted snow beneath a crust • Over one meter • Spontaneous release • Possible • 3 - Large • N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW above 300 masl • No significant weak layer observed on S-SW aspect today besides and older sun crust 150cm down. This may be a local oddity in the area, which has seen a substantially thicker snowpack than the rest of Nord Troms.
Avalanche Danger Assessment
• As said yesterday, the warming is re-activating buried weak layers. In addition, loose snow avalanches continue to slide on solar aspects. Cornice failure is likely too, and that can trigger larger slab avalanches. We are still "stepping back" from the previous week. • Colder temperatures tomorrow, but I expect no significant surface freezing/radiation cooling due to cloud cover overnight for the snowpack to tighten overnight - FG3. • 3 Considerable • Forecast correct
Notes
• Skied south-southwest facing slopes on Arnøya today, making sure we are down before noon. Radiation cooling overnight and sun during morning provided for excellent corn snow skiing. West aspects looked thin and "tense" - also a larger south face near us looked like its ready to slide. Safe solar aspect skiing requires good knowledge and route choices.