Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Kernpunkte

Ongoing storm conditions will make Wednesday a dangerous day in the West South zone. The greatest risk will be at upper elevations, especially on the volcanoes, where heavy snowfall and strong winds may lead to both human-triggered and natural avalanches. The simplest solution is avoidance. Stay off slopes steeper than 35 degrees and avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2.5

    Feet of snow will continue to fall on Wednesday, increasing the risk of storm slab avalanches. Human-triggered avalanches are likely, and natural releases are possible at upper elevations. Any slope with significant new snow is suspect. If triggered, storm slabs could fail to the bottom of the new snow and be large enough to bury a person, especially on the volcanoes where snowfall and winds will be strongest. Wind-loaded slopes may produce even larger avalanches.

    At upper elevations, avoid traveling on, near, or below slopes steeper than 35 degrees. At mid and lower elevations, watch for signs of instability such as cracking, natural avalanches, or failing test slopes. Choose simple terrain with clear escape options and avoid wind-loaded slopes.

    (3/13/2025)

    A soft slab avalanche from last season on Mt Herman. E, 5000ft, SS-ASr-D2-R2-U.

    These are the types of avalcnhes that could occur on Wednesday.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday was an active day, both weather- and avalanche-wise, across the West South zone. Storm totals since this morning include ~10" at Crystal, 10" at Paradise, and 6" at White Pass. Winds have been cranking all day, with generally moderate sustained speeds and strong ridgeline gusts; the strongest winds are still yet to come. Crystal Mountain Pro Patrol reported reactive storm slabs ranging from 7" to 14" deep. Slabs failed on layers within the storm snow, as well as down to the January 3rd crust. Another observation from the Bullion/Union Basin area spoke of fairly deep new snow accumulations and several small natural slab releases, both storm and wind. 

We have all the makings of a proper storm day, with significant avalanche danger expected on Wednesday. All aspects and elevations will present heightened hazard, with the upper elevations of the volcanoes standing out with risk of very large avalanches. 

Wednesday is not the day to push into complex terrain or test the limits. If you’re headed out, dial it back a notch and stick to simple, low-angle terrain.

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