Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Fri
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

You may be able to trigger slab avalanches in freshly formed drifts at upper elevations and wet avalanches on steep, low-elevation slopes. Watch for recent avalanches, blowing snow, and rain on previously dry snow as indicators. Expect danger to increase late in the day and give yourself options to move to lower-angle terrain.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Moderate south and easterly wind and up to 6" of snow will form slabs at upper elevations. The avalanche danger will increase as wind-drifted slabs build by the end of the day. Watch for blowing snow and cracking in the snow to indicate which slopes will be prone to avalanches. Steer around pillows, and convexities on leeward slopes and just below ridges. You may be able to trigger avalanches easily on northerly aspects and at upper elevations. Cooler temperatures and shade may have formed a weak layer over a slick crust at the new/old snow interface. Use quick tests and dig just below the surface to look for this weak layer.

    (4/1/2023)

    A small, human triggered wind slab at Mission Ridge on Saturday.

  • Loose Wet

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

    You could trigger wet avalanches and they may even run naturally as wet precipitation adds up by the second half of the day. Expect them primarily below treeline on shaded northwest through northeast aspects where the upper snowpack previously remained dry and cold. With enough rain and wet snow, avalanches could extend onto southerly aspects and into the near treeline elevation band. Previously sun-exposed east through west aspects may hold enough of a surface crust that they may be resistant to softening. Pay attention to how much the surface snow is moistening and how easily it slides on test slopes.

    (3/18/2023)

    Rollerballs on steep slopes like this are an indication wet loose avalanches are possible. 

    Photo: Pat Riffie

Avalanche Discussion

A warm and windy storm weather will impact the area. We anticipate that areas in the central part of the zone like the Wenatchee Mountains, the Icicle Creek drainage, and the Chiwaukum Mountains could receive higher precipitation totals and could see more elevated avalanche danger. In other areas of the zone, you may see minimal avalanche hazard and particularly less wind slab avalanche development. Expect the avalanche danger to increase in the afternoon and overnight into Friday. Light rain and wet snow will fall on a primarily dry snowpack. Upper elevations will receive dry snow and wind. While we're now well into April, the avalanche conditions and snowpack are closer to that which we typically see in mid to late winter. Much of the snowpack is nowhere near transitioning to typical spring melt-freeze conditions.On Wednesday, Katie Warren went to Blewett Pass and found variable snow surfaces and a relatively cold, dry snowpack. Lower trailheads are melting out, and bare patches exist on some groomed trails, all signs that spring is near. But these recent late-season storms tend to bring complex and overlapping avalanche problems. You may experience dry snow and then a rapid transition to wet snow avalanche problems with even a brief period of sunshine. The rapidly changing weather often makes for a tricky avalanche forecast. Stay tuned to the changing snowpack conditions and look for signs of instability. Recent avalanches, rapidly melting snow surfaces, shooting cracks, or actively drifting snow are all signs of deteriorating snow stability. Monitor the snow as you travel and be prepared with options to travel on less consequential terrain with lower angle slopes if you find questionable snowpack conditions. 

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