Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 8 months ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

As you gain elevation, the avalanche risk will increase, and there’s a possibility you could trigger a larger avalanche. The areas most likely to be problematic are those with wind-drifted snow. Look for signs such as heavier-feeling snow layers, textured surfaces, and cornices as indicators to avoid stepping onto nearby steep slopes.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1.5–2

    Steer around steep, unsupported slopes that have been heavily loaded by wind, and pay close attention to recent avalanche activity and signs of instability such as long shooting cracks. Choose sheltered terrain, or avoid steep terrain altogether if you are uncertain about conditions.

    Strong and variable winds built heavy slabs in the last 24-48 hours. They are most prominent on the leeward side of ridges, in gullies, and around terrain features such as cliffs, trees, and rollovers. They can be identified with textured surfaces or "pillowlike" appearances. Wind drifted snow also feels heavier.

    Several storm layers exist in the top foot or so of the snow, and although less reactive, there's a chance snow could slide on one of those storm interfaces even in non-wind drifted areas. 

    Example photo: Wind drifted snow around features like rock outcroppings, where it's more likely you can trigger an avalanche. Note the wind transported snow visible in this photo. 

Avalanche Discussion

Rain up into mid-elevations Thursday night could result in peak avalanche activity in the lower and mid elevations in the evening, resulting in slightly less reactive conditions on Friday. You might find a crust at the surface where rain fell.

Forecasts for the next few days call for continued light precipitation and cooler temperatures. The last time we had a significant break in precipitation was December 13. Since then, we've had almost 9" of water in the zone. At upper elevations, where information is extremely limited, new snow depths could be several feet. 

I traveled up to 5000ft in the neighboring West North zone on Thursday, where conditions have been similar to the West Central zone. I found several storm layers sitting on top of a mid-December crust, just over a foot deep. Layers became progressively harder, with the bottom layer being moist and well-bonded to the crust. Failures occurred midway through the storm layer everywhere I traveled, although results weren't too alarming. Below the crust, I found large-grain melt forms extending all the way to the ground. My main concern for avalanche potential was the snow above the crust.

The weather over the past few weeks has been extraordinary, with torrential rains, extreme winds, flooding, and landslides. Many communities are dealing with damage to homes, infrastructure, and businesses, stretching resources thin. These events have limited access to the mountains for all of us. State and local resources are working diligently to reduce the worst of these impacts. We can help by being respectful of local communities, obeying road closures, and heeding ski area uphill travel policies.

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