Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Tue
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

You can easily trigger avalanches at upper elevations, and they may be big enough to bury or kill you where the wind has drifted deeper slabs. You may find more elevated danger in areas of locally higher precipitation such as near Leavenworth, the Wenatchee Mountains, and other areas on the eastern slope of the Cascades. Avalanches could be easy to trigger on variable older snow surfaces and slick crusts.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The most dangerous areas will be where the wind has formed deeper slabs of snow on leeward sides of ridges, rocky outcrops, or confined gullies at upper elevations. Avalanches may be larger and more likely above treeline. Actively blowing snow, textured surfaces, and sculpted drifts can help you identify which slopes may have fresh wind slabs. You can also use your probe or pole to feel for stiff layers of snow over softer layers. Shooting cracks in wind-stiffened snow are a warning to avoid these wind-loaded areas. Steer around steep slopes where you find evidence of sensitive wind slabs or stick to wind-sheltered terrain. 

    (1/3/2023)

    These cornices with pillow-like drifts before are evidence that wind slabs are present on the slopes below.

    Photo: Katie Warren

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    You may be able to trigger avalanches on steep, wind-sheltered slopes. Changes in hardness within the recent snow, recent sun crusts, and the Christmas crust have all been the culprit for triggered avalanches below treeline in the last few days. Quick hand pits and small test slopes are great ways to investigate this recent snow interface. Use extra caution to steer around steep slopes where new snow breaks easily in snowpack tests or on small test slopes.

    Below 3000ft, wet loose avalanches could occur on steep slopes with daytime warming. Look for signs of rain falling on snow, rollerballs, or wet snow surfaces indicators for wet loose avalanches. In areas of higher rain totals, there's a chance that these avalanches could gouge deeply into areas of very weak snowpack and become large and dangerous.

    (1/8/2023)

    Small skier triggered storm slab near Tronsen Head, Blewett Pass.

    Photo: Public Observation

Avalanche Discussion

Sunday was an active day for avalanches. WSDOT highway forecasters have reported natural avalanaches in Tumwater Canyon,  Highway 2 over the last couple of days. On Sunday, they reported a couple of wet avalanches big enough to bury or kill a person. A forecaster in the Icicle Creek drainage triggered a large avalanche in the recent snow on a north aspect at 5,500ft with a crown almost 100ft wide and 8" deep. He also found weak snow just above the Christmas crust, which was about 12-14" below the surface. An observer near Blewett Pass reported triggering multiple small avalanches, about 16" deep. Mission Ridge Ski Patrol triggered cornices with explosives that resulted in slab avalanches, 12-16" deep on wind loaded slopes. Earlier in the week, observers on a south aspects near Lake Wenatchee reported that the new snow slid easily and ran far on the underlying melt-freeze crust. 

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