Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 4 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Your largest avalanche concerns are pockets of wind-drifted snow along ridgelines and around features in mid and upper elevation terrain on Friday. Feel for thicker snow and search for wind-textured or rippled surfaces as indicators of the presence of a slab ad avoid steep slopes in these areas. North-facing terrain still has dry powder, and you might trigger loose snow avalanches as you enter steep slopes where light, dry snow still exists. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    Wind slabs we've encountered in recent days are different from the ones we oftentimes see. Unusual wind directions shifted snow into areas that don't normally collect deposits.  Many recent avalanches were reported as being soft slabs. Subtle drifting still formed slabs that were reactive to a human trigger, although the slabs weren't as hard as what we oftentimes think of with wind slabs. These unusual slabs may be more tricky to identify. They may not be large enough to bury you, but if you're in high consequence terrain they could still cause harm. 

    Pay attention to changes in snow texture and depth as you gain elevation and change aspects. These changes could happen quickly, where you might find major differences in only a matter of a couple feet. Signs of recent wind-effect like scoured snow surfaces and drifting behind features are good indicators of where you might encounter additional deposits. Hand pits and test slopes can help you gauge the bond of wind slabs, but don't ignore obvious signs of instability like whumphs, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.  If you encounter these signs of instability or see clues of drifting, avoid nearby slopes that are greater than 35 degrees. 

    (4/11/2022) Although this small avalanche is from another zone, avalanches throughout the Cascades have been unusual lately, breaking on small wind-drifted features in areas you don't often see wind loading due to the out-of the ordinary winds. Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Our wintery April is keeping temperatures cooler in the mountains, and occasional scattered snow is expected in the next couple days. With dynamic spring conditions, we may see sun breaks. They could could lead to small wet loose avalanches on steep southerly slopes. If you notice the sun shining for a few minutes or notice any small wet loose avalanches running, avoid those steep areas and the terrain beneath them. South-facing slopes could have already seen the sun, and a crust could exist on those aspects. North-facing slopes are still hanging on to winter, and low density snow can still be found there. You could trigger small loose dry avalanches if you venture out onto non wind-loaded steep slopes still holding low-density snow. Pay attention to any loose snow avalanches you trigger, so that you don't get caught in the "sluff", especially if you are in high consequence terrain such as in a tight gully or above a cliff band.

The forecast varies greatly depending on where you are in the zone. If you're headed out, check the adjacent forecast as well, and you might receive information more relevant to where you're going. As springtime climbers start traveling further into the depths of the West Central Zone, please take the time to submit an OBSERVATION so that we can continue providing up-to-date information for other backcountry users as they come out of hibernation.

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