Gudauri
Natural avalanches are possible, human-triggered avalanches are likely. Small avalanches in many areas, or large avalanches in specific areas, or very large avalanches in isolated areas.
Watch out for reactive areas of storm snow (now re-distributed by wind), loose wet slides as the temperatures climb, and remember the buried weaknesses that are mostly found in high and shady locations.
Forecast issued at: 23 March 2025 20:30
Forecast valid until: 26 March 2025 20:30
Forecaster: Manu Greer
High Alpine
> 2600m
3 Considerable
Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.
Alpine
2000m - 2600m
2 Moderate
Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.
Sub Alpine
< 2000m
2 Moderate
Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slab
Strong winds from the N overnight on Sunday created windslabs on the South half of the compass. Look for fat pillows of snow near ridges. Cross-loading might also be a problem, where areas around terrain features get loaded as wind moves across the slope.
| Sensitivity | The specific avalanche problem type is reactive to human rider triggers. Easy to trigger with ski cut. |
| Distribution | Specific areas, with common characteristics. Evidence for instabilities exists, but it is not obvious and finding it requires careful observations. |
| Time of Day | All day |
| Trend | Improving |
| Confidence | Moderate |
Persistent Slab
Weak facet layers in the lower half of the snowpack - more often found in high alpine shady areas but also found in other places - could create a very large avalanche event if triggered. The extra weight of the new snow makes these avalanches more likely. Try to minimise your exposure to large paths, and avoid common trigger points such as areas near rocks or steep convex roll-overs. Whumphing and cracking are signs you are on unstable snow.
| Sensitivity | The specific avalanche problem type is difficult to trigger with a human rider. |
| Distribution | Specific areas, with common characteristics. Evidence for instabilities exists, but it is not obvious and finding it requires careful observations. |
| Time of Day | All day |
| Trend | No change |
| Confidence | Moderate |
Loose Wet
It's getting hot at this time of year. In areas that get a lot of sun, especially near rocks, and at lower elevations, wet avalanches are likely - they can pick up more and more snow as they travel and can become large and dangerous. Avoid these areas when the temperature increases. Partly cloudy skies can trap more heat and increase temperatures quickly - watch out for the 'greenhouse effect'!
| Sensitivity | The specific avalanche problem type is reactive to human rider triggers. Easy to trigger with ski cut. |
| Distribution | Specific areas, with common characteristics. Evidence for instabilities exists, but it is not obvious and finding it requires careful observations. |
| Time of Day | Afternoon |
| Trend | Deteriorating |
| Confidence | High |
Recent Avalanches and Snowpack
Recent Avalanches: A widespread cycle of natural avalanches happened during the recent storm. Many loose dry and storm slab avalanches, some triggered by explosives, were seen around the resort on Sunday, size 1 - 3. A size 4 avalanche had released from the N face of Sadzele peak, starting in storm snow and breaking deeper layers. Loose wet avalanches also released on Sunday up to size 2 from many lower elevation slopes, and higher elevation areas where rocks absorbed solar radiation.
Snowpack: From Wednesday evening until Saturday evening, around 100cm of snow fell at higher elevations, with mostly light SE winds, with a period of moderate to strong N/NW winds on Sunday morning, and Sunday night. The new snow landed on icy melt-freeze crusts above a moist snowpack in many places. Faceted (weak) snow layers are still present at higher elevations, even on sunny slopes. High elevation shady slopes still hold cold snow, with the lower half of the snowpack often composed of loose facet layers between 1 and 4 fingers resistance, with old surface hoar and depth hoar in some areas.
Weather
A warming trend over the next 3 days with a mix of sun and cloud and not much wind forecast.
Weather Forecast
Disclaimer
Our avalanche forecasters are internationally qualified and experienced professionals, and data is provided by skilled observers. We encourage you to make your own observations and decisions, without relying solely on our forecast, since any forecast is a generalised 'best guess', and in certain cases it might be inaccurate. We can not be held liable for any actions you take in the backcountry that may result in injury, loss or death.