Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Kernpunkte

Wet snow avalanches are a concern with lingering snowpack moisture and warm temperatures. In areas with dry snow, you could trigger an avalanche in isolated pockets of wind-loaded terrain. Use caution on slopes steeper than 35 degrees if you find signs of wet snow instability or cracking and collapsing in wind-affected terrain.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

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

    Moisture from the rain event Tuesday night lingers in the snowpack at middle and upper elevations. Combined with warm temperatures and a chance for a bit more rain, wet snow avalanches remain on the table. The typical progression of wet loose avalanches involves rollerballs and pinwheels that lead to point releases. Other signs that indicate warming are sticky snow surfaces, chunks of snow falling off trees, and water dripping from cliffs. Give sagging cornices a lot of space whether you’re above or below them. If the snow under your skis or sled is heavy or sloppy, keep to slopes less than 35 degrees, or find terrain with a firm, supportable crust.

    (12/19/2024)

    The debris toe of a small wet loose avalanche in the East Central zone.

    Photo: Payton Schiff

  • Wind Slabs

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

    It will be unlikely - but not impossible - to trigger a wind slab avalanche at upper elevations where dry snow has loaded lee slopes. Rippled, uneven snow surfaces indicate that wind has transported snow, and soft, pillowy wind slabs may be lurking nearby. Hop on your skis or off your sled onto small test slopes to check for instability before you hop onto steeper terrain. Shooting cracks and collapsing indicate that you have found an unstable slab. If you see signs of instability, stick to lower angle, wind-sheltered slopes.

    (12/11/2024)

    Wind sculpted features along the ridge above the Teanaway Drainage in the East Central zone. Wind slabs were found on lee slopes from here.

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

It can often take a few days for moisture to fade out of the snowpack, which is exactly what we’re finding right now. On Wednesday, an NWAC forecaster found moist snow over halfway down in the snowpack at middle elevations as did another observer. Thursday night and Friday weather will not speed up the drying process, so instability lingers. It will take a lot to break down the freezing rain crust at lower elevations and we don’t expect avalanches to initiate from this elevation band. However, this breakable “trap” crust makes for difficult travel, even for sleds. Find supportable, refrozen surfaces if you plan to get out into steeper terrain.

The snowpack is significantly cooler in the north and east ends of the zone at upper elevations, having been less affected by the Tuesday night rain event. We suspect warm temperatures on Thursday have helped heal wind slabs quite well but we lack the data to say for certain. If you’re traveling around at upper elevations and find dry snow, be on the lookout for lingering pockets of wind slab instability.

Return to an early season terrain management mindset as you travel around. Rain could have re-exposed hazards such as rocks, open creeks, and trees that were previously buried under snow. Give yourself the time and space to navigate variable conditions, no matter your elevation.

Help NWAC forecasters reduce uncertainty by submitting an observation!

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