Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Wed
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
3 · Erheblich
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Kernpunkte

A large natural avalanche cycle occurred Monday, with a mix of dry and wet snow avalanches.  Avalanche activity will begin slowing as precipitation amounts taper into Tuesday.  Continue to avoid steep slopes and steer around lower angle terrain beneath large avalanche paths. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wet Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    2–3

    An observer at Heather Meadows reported finding natural avalanches and easily triggering wet slab avalanches failing within the new snow layer. You can check out the observation HERE.  Warm, wet conditions and a snowline hovering around 4000-4500ft means we've got a strange combination of a mostly dry snowpack with a variable mix of wet, heavy snow on top,  depending on the elevation you're at. This doesn't particularly categorize as your usual wet slab avalanche, but it still falls within the range. At lower elevations where rain saturated the snow, you'll find wetter and softer snow and more  typical wet slab avalanche problems. 

    As the snowpack is adjusting to all the water and weight added to it, possible natural avalanches and likely human-triggered wet snow avalanches will remain a concern on Tuesday. In addition to wet slabs, you'll probably also encounter wet loose avalanches on steep slopes.  Avalanches will most likely remain in the new snow layers, but they could run as deep as older underlying crusts or weak layers.  Keep your travel to slopes less than 35 degrees, and steer around the runouts of large avalanche paths, as natural avalanches are still possible. 

    (2/28/2022)

    A slab avalanche, mostly wet in nature,  which was easy to trigger on any steep slopes in the Heather Meadows area on Monday. 

    Photo: Public Ob

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    2–3

    At upper elevations where snow remained drier, expect to encounter reactive storm slabs.  It is likely that you could trigger an avalanche on one,  probably occurring within the new snow layers. There's a chance an avalanche could fail as deep as the new/old snow interface where we were previously finding weak layers, or possibly down to the Valentine's crust. Avalanches in deeper layers might mean them breaking as  deep as 3 to 5 feet at upper elevations. Where wind drifted slabs into thicker deposits, there is a higher chance of triggering an avalanche.  Plenty of wind accompanied the atmospheric river in many locations so there's a good chance you'll find wind slabs in your travels. 

    Don’t ignore obvious signs of instability like shooting cracks, whumphs, or recent avalanche activity.  Approach any steep slope with caution and remain aware of terrain above you. Stick to lower angle terrain, and steer around the bottoms of large avalanche paths.

    (2/20/2022)

    A human triggered avalanche resulted in a partial burial on Table Mt just over a week ago. Something similar, but probably larger, could happen Tuesday.   Photo: Public Obs

Avalanche Discussion

Mt Baker Ski Area reported very large avalanches, both explosive triggered and roars of natural avalanches heard from afar on Monday. Many smaller and lower angle slopes than you would normally expect to see avalanches on slid as well.  Conditions will slowly stabilize, but you could probably still encounter avalanches where you wouldn't normally expect to see them on Tuesday. As of Monday evening, the storm totaled over 6 inches of water and 33 inches of snow at the Heather Meadows telemetry site since Saturday. This is a lot of water and snow, accompanied by warm temperatures and wind in a short period of time. Snow conditions are unusual, with wet snow and wind-affected surfaces.  We're on the heels of a large natural avalanche event and not yet the time to get on steep slopes in the backcountry. Lower angle terrain can still make a good trip and see you making it home safely at the end of the day. 

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