Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

Mon
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
Open full map
Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 3 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Winds on Saturday likely drifted snow into stiff slabs at upper elevations. You can trigger avalanches in the wind-drifted snow, particularly on steep slopes below ridges, confined chutes, and gullies. Avoid steep slopes with textured surfaces and pillow-like drifts. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    We have limited observations and a fair amount of uncertainty. Still, the East South recently received around 1ft of new snow, and moderate winds on Saturday likely drifted the snow into stiff slabs. Expect wind slabs to be larger and easier to trigger as you ascend elevation. Use visual clues such as textured surfaces, deep pillow-like drifts, or feel for stiff over soft snow layering to identify likely wind slab locations. Avoid steep slopes and potential trigger spots such as the base of cliffs, convex rolls, and slopes below corniced ridges. Also, pay attention to warning signs of instability, such as shooting cracks or recent avalanches.

    (2/28/2023)

    These pillow-like drifts below ridges are prime locations to trigger a wind slab. 

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

We received a brief break in precipitation and enjoyed some sun on Saturday after Thursday night's storm brought a healthy 10-12 inches of new snow to favored areas in the southern portion of the zone. Areas further north received 4-6 inches of snow. The sun likely formed a thin crust on sunny slopes. Our observations for this storm are limited to areas in surrounding zones, so we are quite uncertain of the reactivity of the new snow. We expect you will most likely find unstable snow on very steep terrain or wind-loaded slopes. However, with minimal information, approach terrain with an assessment mindset and be prepared to dial back slope angles if you see signs of instability.

If you ventured out to enjoy the new snow, please take a moment to use our observation platform and let us know what you saw.

In neighboring East Central, as the skies cleared, observers saw some very large crowns from natural avalanches above 7000ft on northern aspects in alpine terrain. We are uncertain about the layer these slides ran on. However, they appear to be primarily in wind-loaded, high-elevation, exposed terrain. Older crust layers may be the culprit, so consider the consequences of a very large avalanche and avoid steep wind-loaded terrain at these higher elevations. 

Abgedeckte Regionen