Pirineo navarro — Avalanche Forecast

Storm Slab

Above 2600m

Persistent Slab

Above 2200m

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Recent snow problem and wind slab in high altitudes. Wet snow problem and basal slides. Precipitation is expected in the coming hours, with the snow line descending to around 2000 meters, which could accumulate about 10-30 cm of new snow at high altitudes, locally more. Below approximately 2500 meters, most of the precipitation will be in liquid form or very wet snow, so wet snow avalanches will remain probable on sufficiently inclined slopes of any orientation, especially during showers. Generally, these will be small (fall risk), in some cases medium (capable of burying a person), although basal slides may occur on grassy or smooth rock slopes, potentially reaching greater magnitude. Above approximately 2500 meters, new deposits are likely not to bond well with the existing snowpack, thus releasing purges of drier recent snow. Additionally, with the southwest flow, some fragile wind slab formations may develop on north-facing slopes, which could collapse with the passage of a single skier. Both types of avalanches will generally be small in size, or at most medium.

During yesterday, significant precipitation was recorded in the mountain range, which in many areas ranged from 30-50 l/m2, locally exceeding 70 l/m2, occurring only as snow in the high mountains. Thus, some centimeters of new snow have been deposited above approximately 2600 meters, while at lower altitudes the snowpack has continued to undergo melting and humidification processes, as has been happening for days. The snowpack shows some continuity at high altitudes, although the sun-exposed slopes are quite snowless up to considerable heights, and rocky outcrops are frequent in shaded areas. Despite this, due to the heavy snowfall recorded during this season, snow depths are still significant above 2200-2400 meters, reaching 40-100 cm in some locations. The snowpack consists of very dense old snow, predominantly with rounded grains and some crusted layers intercalated inside. Given the expected precipitation today, above approximately 2400-2500 meters, a few centimeters of drier snow may be deposited, which might not bond well with the previous snowpack.