Avalanche Bulletin

Avalanche Problem

ストームスラブ Storm slab

Avalanche Problem

全層雪崩 Glide slab

The cool nighttime temperatures were weak, and at lower elevations, rainfall occurred yesterday.

Avalanche Problem

点発生湿雪雪崩 Wet Loose snow

Caution with high daytime temperatures and sunny slopes. Rating is as of morning.

Summary

Avalanche

No new avalanches were reported yesterday (March 18) due to the low number of visitors to the mountain. A number of wet loose snow avalanches have been reported in the adjacent Hakuba Mountains area.

Snowpack

Snowfall due to low pressure since yesterday morning amounted to 15-20 cm. Snow condition is moist at lower elevations and dry at higher elevations. There is very little snowfall due to winter conditions after the passage of the low pressure system. Thus, today's theme is the extent to which the snow that was weakly bonded yesterday is settling and bonding with the old snow. Also, in higher elevations, we need to pay attention to slabs that may have been formed by the northwest winds.

Weather

The Japan Meteorological Agency is forecasting a southerly wind, daytime, northwesterly winds, clear skies, and a maximum temperature of 11°C (13 m above sea level) for the Joetsu region of Niigata Prefecture. At Myoko Sasagamine (elevation 1,310 m), the temperature is -1° (as of 5:45 a.m.).

Travel and Terrain Advice

This is a day of heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. At higher elevations, be especially vigilant on the northeast to southeast slopes. If the bonding between new and old snow is not so good, it is necessary to choose a gentle slope. At lower elevations, watch for changes in the snow on south-facing slopes due to high daytime temperatures and solar radiation. Because of the hard snow surface under the new snow, climbers should remember that even very small avalanches can cause a slip-and-fall hazard. The mountain is expected to be crowded. Please value principled behavior such as stopping at safe places and moving in reasonable spaces. And in large terrains, pay attention to the groups above and below you. Snow melt at lower elevations is much more advanced than in previous years, so route selection should take this into account. Have a good day.