Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist last year abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Saturday will be the warmest day in over a week, elevating the potential for wet avalanche activity. Look for loose slides on sun-exposed slopes, particularly near rocky outcrops. If you're going to see a larger and more dangerous avalanche, it will be if a cornice collapses or a block of snow falls from a cliff.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

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

    Expect another warm and sunny morning to destabilize the snow surface, resulting in wet loose activity. If an overnight crust forms, it should break down after a few hours. We often consider wet loose slides as small and easy to manage, but with so much warm weather and a good bed surface in place, they could grow large and fan out as they descend. All the snow above March's AR crust is in play for wet avalanches this weekend, so take a moment to figure out how much exists wherever you're recreating. It could be as much as a foot. 

    Wet loose slides will be easier to trigger on steep, sun-exposed slopes or near rocky outcrops where the snowpack is weaker. Make travel plans that minimize your overhead exposure and steer you clear of terrain traps, where even a small slide could become consequential.

    (4/3/2025)

    Rollerballs are an easy-to-identify early indicator the snow surface is becoming wet and sticky, and wet avalanches could soon follow. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Friday was a bright and sunny day in the West South zone, with temperatures reaching into the 40s. Expect temperatures to continue climbing into a sunny, Saturday morning before increasing clouds usher in our next weather system on Sunday. It should be the warmest day since last week, and we have roughly a foot of new snow available for avalanche activity. On shaded aspects, you may even find some dry snow at middle and upper elevations. We don't anticipate many slides failing below March's AR crust, but springtime weather can often throw a curveball at you.

We haven't transitioned to a springtime snowpack yet, despite what the weather may suggest. Below the variable March AR crust, our snowpack contains moist melt forms and is considered warm and weak. If a large trigger is able to activate this snow, it could result in larger and more dangerous slides.

That trigger could be something like a cornice collapse. These ticking time bombs need to come down sometime this spring, and warm, sunny weather is often an ideal time for it. Many of them sagged but didn't fail during last week's warm and wet weather. Maybe this weekend will provide the extra push that they need. If you're traveling high on a volcano, be aware that the NWAC forecast may not be directly applicable, and you may encounter a more winter-like snowpack. Be prepared to make your own assessments and be leery of icefall or other shed-style avalanches. 

At lower elevations, spring has sprung. Bare ground is becoming increasingly common, especially on southerly aspects. Expect thinning snowpacks, open creeks, and plenty of tree debris. That's not to say there isn't enough snow in some areas for avalanche hazard. If you're sinking into wet snow past your ankle, assume wet slides are possible.

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