Ribagorza — Avalanche Forecast

Storm Slab

Above 2600m

Persistent Slab

Above 2200m

Problems extracted by AI from bulletin text. May be inaccurate.

Recent snow problem and wind slab in high elevations. Wet snow problem and basal slides. Precipitation is expected in the coming hours, with the snow line dropping to around 2000 meters, which could accumulate approximately 10-30 cm of new snow at high elevations, and more locally. Below about 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 aspect, especially during showers. Generally, these will be small (risk of fall), in some cases medium (capable of burying a person), although a basal slide may occur on grassy or smooth rock slopes, potentially reaching greater magnitude. Above approximately 2500 meters, new deposits are unlikely to bond well with the existing snowpack, so dry recent snow purges may occur. Additionally, with the southwest flow, some fragile wind slabs could form on north-facing slopes, which could collapse with the passage of a single skier. Both types of avalanches will generally be small, or at most medium-sized.

During yesterday, significant precipitation was recorded in the mountain range, with many areas receiving around 30-50 l/m2, locally more than 70 l/m2, in the form of snow only in the high mountains. Thus, some centimeters of new snow have been deposited above about 2600 meters, while at lower elevations the snowpack has continued to undergo melting and humidification processes, as has been happening for days. The snowpack shows some continuity at high elevations, although the sun-exposed slopes are quite snowless up to considerable altitudes, and rocky outcrops are common on shaded slopes. Despite this, due to the heavy snowfall recorded 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, with predominantly rounded grains and some crusted layers intercalated inside. Given the forecasted precipitation for today, above about 2400-2500 meters, a few centimeters of drier snow may be deposited, which might not bond well with the existing snowpack.