Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Kernpunkte

Expect dangerous avalanche conditions as a storm brings significant new snow and also some rain to lower elevations. Limit travel in avalanche terrain. Avoid all avalanche terrain including big slopes overhead if you see widespread signs of instability like shooting cracks or natural avalanches.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

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

    It's not the  biggest storm of the year but there will be enough new snow to justify taking a step back when it comes to terrain choice. The approaching storm is warmer than anything we have seen in quite a while. While we have gotten used to cold dry powder falling on settled snow, be ready for dense slabs and upside-down snow conditions Monday.

    Fresh slabs don't take special tools to observe.  Look for shooting cracks and new natural and human triggered avalanches. Use small test slopes to gauge reactivity. Hand pits might show a stronger layer sliding easily over a weaker layer below.

    You are more likely to trigger an avalanche in downwind terrain where the wind drops new snow into thicker and more sensitive slabs.

    (3/11/2023)

    Storm slab avalanche with wide propagation around a gully in Swift Creek/West North

    Photo: Pete Durr

  • Loose Wet

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

    Some level of wet avalanche activity is likely with snow levels rising overnight and putting some rain on the cold and dry snow we have enjoyed for the last month. Rain and thick wet snow are hard to ignore so this problem shouldn't take you by surprise. Pay attention to slopes overhead and look for signs of instability like pinwheels, rollerballs, or snow shedding from trees and rocks. Don’t linger directly under steep slopes if you start seeing any of the above.

    In addition to wet loose avalanches, larger-than-average cornices will start to sag with warmer temperatures. They will eventually get primed up to come crashing down and lay waste to anything in their path. They can also trigger large slab avalanches where a single person or even a group of people would not. Keep track of what is above you be it a large cornice or steep slopes producing rollerballs or other signs of wet avalanche instability. It's up to you to stay out of the way.

    Example of small (D1) loose wet avalanches from last winter. Though these are not nearly big enough to fully bury a person, they still pose a significant danger in terrain with creeks, gullies, rocks, etc. in the track or runnout. 

     

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