Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Give the snowpack another day to cool before venturing into bigger terrain. With another hot, sunny day, dangerous wet avalanches could run naturally, or you could trigger one that breaks widely on deeply buried weak layers. Avoid traveling on steep terrain, and don't linger beneath large avalanche paths or drainages that channel avalanche debris.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Wet loose and wet slab avalanches are still likely, with minimal freezes overnight. Wet avalanches may run naturally, or you could trigger a widely propagating wet slab on deeply buried weak layers from Early February. These avalanches are notoriously tricky to predict, and the only way to manage this problem is through terrain avoidance. 

    Stay out of harm's way by avoiding travel on and under all large slopes greater than 30 degrees, especially during the heat of the day. Lower elevations may see avalanches run from above, so know what terrain is above you and avoid lingering under large slopes or near steep drainages that can channel flowing debris from above. The heat and sunshine will also weaken cornices. Give these overhanging chunks some space. They are a hazard on their own but could also trigger wet loose or slab avalanches.

    (1/29/2024)

    An example of a very large wet slab avalanche (d3) from late January.Mission Ridge Ski Area WS-ASu-D3-R4-O/G

Avalanche Discussion

This season's first big, warming event is continuing. Temperatures will begin to cool on Wednesday, with some wind and thin clouds to help slow the melting of the snowpack. We don't expect thick clouds or below-freezing temperatures until at least Wednesday night.

With extended warm periods and a weak snowpack, it is very challenging to pinpoint when avalanche activity will peak. But we know avalanche conditions are dangerous, and we expect wet avalanches to occur naturally and be easy to trigger. These long periods of uncertainty and unstable snow take conservative terrain management and diligent patience. 

A close call on the 16th, where snowmobilers triggered a very large avalanche in Ahtanum (East South) that failed on deeply buried weak layers, is an indication of the potential for these types of avalanches as we continue to warm the snowpack. Other notable wet slab avalanches and wet loose avalanches occurred throughout the weekend in the Teanaway. Avalanche debris came close to covering the North Fork Teanaway road at the valley bottom and, in one location, was estimated to be 15-20ft deep below a confined gully feature.

Your avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations are extremely valuable to the avalanche community. Help create a more accurate avalanche forecast by submitting your observations here. 

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