Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Kernpunkte

You may still be able to trigger avalanches in lingering pockets of wind-drifted snow at high elevations. Alpine terrain features such as the base of cliffs and confined chutes are likely spots to get caught in one of these slabs. Identify and avoid steep slopes with hollow-sounding snow or deep, pillow-like drifts.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The recent strong winds will likely make it challenging to find locations where this wind event did not impact the recent snow. Observations throughout the zone show widespread wind-affected surfaces with many windward slopes scoured down to crusts. Wind slabs formed during this wind event are likely stubborn to trigger. However, where they developed over slick crusts or weak snow surfaces, they could take a bit longer to become unreactive. While none of these avalanches are likely to be large, don't let your guard down in terrain where getting knocked off your feet could have significant consequences. Steep, confined, rocky terrain will be the most likely location to trigger one of these avalanches. Look and feel for hollow-sounding snow, textured surfaces, and "fat" looking drifts to identify steep slopes to avoid. When in doubt, simply trend around these features using lower angle slopes or scoured windward aspects.

    (3/24/2023) Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

Unfortunately, this recent east flow event didn't bring much snow further north into the East Central zone. NWAC forecaster Matt Primomo found just a couple of inches over a crust on most aspects at Blewett Pass. Although northerly aspects still held soft dry snow, even these shady slopes were moistening from the warm spring afternoon. Observers in Holden also reported supportable crusts on sunny slopes and soft dry snow becoming moist up to 6000ft on north aspects near Holden. If the sun sticks around into the afternoon on Thursday, you could see increasing potential for wet loose avalanches on sunny slopes. Widespread crusts and wind-affected snow will likely limit the extent of wet avalanche problems, but you still may see some small wet slides tomorrow. Pay attention to the consistency of the snow below you and move onto lower-angle terrain if wet, heavy snow is easily sliding downhill.

At mid and upper elevations, a deep and layered winter snowpack exists. If you dig down, you will find older layers of melt-freeze crusts from around Christmas, MLK, and Valentine's day and a layer of surface hoar buried on January 4th. These layers are not a concern for avalanches at this time but are another reminder that we have not transitioned to a spring snowpack quite yet. 

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