Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Kernpunkte

Strengthening winds should drive a late-day increase in avalanche danger. Fall back into sheltered terrain with minimal exposure to large slopes if conditions deteriorate. Deep, unconsolidated snow and barely buried hazards increase the risk of both collision and immersion accidents.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

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

    The snow hasn’t let up, with 1–2 feet falling on each of the past two days. While new snow layers have not shown notable reactivity, there is simply too much snow to take steep terrain lightly. You are more likely to trigger an avalanche on steep slopes with active or recent wind loading, but instability is also possible in less wind-exposed terrain. 

    Use the crust found 1-3 feet beneath the surface as a benchmark to track how new snow and wind slab thickness change with elevation and aspect. Stomping on small test slopes and wind-drifted features can help assess how well the new snow layers bond. Shooting cracks and fresh avalanches are red flags that steep terrain is primed to produce avalanches. The easiest way to reduce risk is to default to lower-angle, more planar slopes.

    (3/14/2024)

    Storm slab avalanches often release at interfaces within the new snow.

    Photo: Aaron Richards

Avalanche Discussion

Strong afternoon winds were forecast over the past two days, but they never materialized, and avalanche danger did not quite reach forecast levels. Strong winds are again anticipated Monday afternoon. If they do pick up this time, expect rapidly rising avalanche danger on leeward slopes. There is no shortage of new snow available to build fresh slabs.

Observers in the Baker Backcountry reported 12–16 inches of new snow on Sunday, with up to 3 feet of snow over the crust buried on December 18. Difficult travel conditions were also reported. A secondhand observation from Canyon Creek indicated 15–20 inches over the same crust.

Stability test results were mixed. Some observers found small, reactive slabs on test slopes, while others reported more stubborn results. Slow warming through the day created upside-down snow and likely contributed to instability. Small-column tests showed generally resistant results and a stronger bond at the December 18 crust–new snow interface, while easier, more sudden results were observed at an interface 12–16 inches below the surface. No avalanches were reported as of late Sunday afternoon.

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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