Lawinenlagebericht

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Wed
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 5 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

You may be able to trigger avalanches on steep slopes above treeline where westerly winds formed drifts on Saturday. Both poor visibility and recent snow covering the older slabs could make it difficult to assess slopes of concern. Stick to wind-sheltered terrain and areas where you can more easily assess the snowpack.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You may still be able to trigger avalanches on leeward slopes, above treeline that are 35 degrees and steeper. Use caution on wind-loaded slopes. Steer around convex rolls, thicker pillows of snow, and slopes with drifted wind features. Consider the consequences of avalanches breaking widely across a slope. Approach the upper elevations with an assessment mindset.  

    Winds (SW-NW) formed slabs over the course of an intense storm on the 18th. While avalanches occurred at all elevations and on leeward as well as wind-sheltered slopes, the concern remains where wind slabs may have formed. It's becoming difficult to trigger avalanches near treeline, but it's still worth keeping this problem in mind there.  Both poor visibility and recent snow (covering the drifts) could make it more difficult to assess the wind-loading patterns and identify slopes of concern.

    (12/19/2021)

    A crown from an avalanche (size D2.5) that ran on 12/18 in storm snow. Above treeline, NW, Chiwaukum range

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Expect warming temperatures and light rain in the afternoon below 4,000ft. At low elevations, you may find moist snow surfaces and even some rollerballs or loose wet avalanches on steep slopes. Consider the consequences of a small avalanche near terrain traps or areas of shallow snow cover.

Another 2" of snow accumulated on top of the 15" of snow that fell on Sunday. Storm snow is difficult to trigger in wind-sheltered terrain and at low elevations. Observers reported a widespread cycle of avalanches, up to size D2.5, that occurred on Saturday, the 18th. Fluctuating temperatures created up to two crusts at the beginning and towards the 2nd half of the storm.

The best that we know from limited information, the two crusts deeper in the snowpack (December 8th and early December) were not involved with the recent avalanche cycle. While they are quickly becoming less of a concern in this zone, it's worth checking them out if you're going to upper elevations or further east in the zone. Observations are still limited.

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