Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Thu
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

Heavy snow will create dangerous avalanche conditions where the wind forms deep drifts at upper elevations. You can trigger avalanches on most slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Carefully note the direction of wind drifting and use caution near steep, wind-loaded slopes.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    These avalanches could be big enough to bury or kill you. You can trigger them immediately on the leeward sides of ridges in stiffer slabs and pillows of snow. If you don't see actively blowing snow, stay alert to visual clues that the previous drifting occurred. You may see (or feel) 1) areas of deeper snow near shallower areas, 2) stiffer, wind-sculpted features, and 3) cracks that shoot through the snow. You can avoid getting caught by sticking to slopes under 35 degrees and wind-sheltered terrain

    Expect the strongest winds with heavy snow overnight, though some blowing snow may continue through Wednesday. Wind direction will vary. The cold air temperatures may keep instabilities from gaining strength. Winds slabs will be the most dangerous of today's avalanche flavors. It's best to avoid the areas where you could trigger them.

     

    (11/27/2022)

    Cracking of wind-stiffened slabs near Stevens Pass Mountain Resort.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Dry

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

    Loose avalanches may be big enough to knock you off of your feet on wind-sheltered slopes near treeline, 35 degrees and steeper. Stay alert in steep terrain. These avalanches could push you into a dangerous area if you're not paying attention. You could be injured by hitting shallowly buried logs or other obstacles. The new snow will generally be cold, light, and dry. It's falling on similarly weak snow.  If you don't have experience managing these avalanches, it's best to avoid steep terrain. 

     

    (11/20/2020) Small loose dry avalanches from a previous season. Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Expect more cold temperatures for Wednesday. Bring extra layers and monitor exposed skin for cold injuries. There's a lot of uncertainty with the potent storm that will impact the zone Tuesday night through Wednesday. What we know is the bulk of the snow and wind will come overnight and it will be easy to trigger avalanches. Expect very light, low-density snow.

On Monday and Tuesday, observers near Cutthroat peak reported snow depths of 3-5 feet with about a foot of recent snow that fell Saturday night to Sunday. They noted only minimal wind-affected snow at upper elevations.  They found some small facetted layers near the ground and between late November crusts, but no results in snowpack tests. We have limited observations on the extent and distribution of weak, faceted snow from mid-November. An observer noted being able to easily push a pole through the snowpack to the ground in the Hairpin Valley on the 22nd, indicating a weak snowpack. On the 25th, observers found light rain up to about 7,600ft at Blue Lake Col. The rain had created a few very small wet loose avalanches, and about an inch of the snow surface was saturated. The warm temperatures and rain may not have been enough to strengthen this weak layer of snow.  

It's still early season, and the snowpack is shallow. Hazards exist such as shallowly buried trees, rocks, and open creeks. Let us know what you see by submitting an observation.

 

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