Thursday, May 8th, 2008

Good morning,

As we get toward the end of the avalanche season, this forecast may sound a bit like a broken record. Yesterday, we received a trace of precipitation with a light east wind. Temperatures have cooled down the last three nights, but the temperature just above the ski hill remains above freezing. The snow pack in the upper mountains consists of a soft crust on top of wet mush. The snow generally gets drier and harder with depth. No significant instabilities exist at this time. A stacked low over the central Aleutians has produced a secondary front that will wrap into the gulf tonight and tomorrow. Today expect cloudy skies with rain showers and a moderate east wind. The limited amount of precipitation expected should have negligible effect on our well tested snow pack. Sunshine should remain muted behind cloudy skies. Small, wet, loose snow avalanches may occur. Cornices seem to be well supported. Glide cracks, on the other hand, may pose a greater hazard. Deep, wet slab avalanches could occur on isolated terrain features, but are largely dependent on significant amounts of energy input like rain or sunshine. At 5.5 mile, so little snow remains in the run out, avalanches are not expected to reach the highway, if they occur at all. As for backcountry users, avoid steep, open, convex slopes, cornices, and glide cracks.

Hoots
424-4668 home
253-4668 cell
hoots@ctcak.net

COPPER RIVER HIGHWAY

Current Avalanche Hazard: LOW

Hazard Outlook: LOW  but may increase tomorrow if we get significant amounts of rain.

BACKCOUNTRY

Below Tree Line: LOW avoid terrain traps below steep, open slopes.

Tree Line: MODERATE Avoid steep, convex slopes, and glide cracks.

Current avalanche activity is an important factor in avalanche forecasting.  Please report all observed avalanche activity.

For Alaska Department of Transportation use only.

Other users:
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS NOR THE CITY OF CORDOVA BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.