Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
Open full map
Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 2 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Human triggered avalanches are likely as we receive more snow overnight and through the day on Saturday. Avoid traveling on steep slopes, and in particular, ones where wind drifted the snow into thicker slabs. Small wet avalanche at lower elevations may occur as well. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Human triggered avalanches are likely on Saturday. Chances of triggering an avalanche are highest in wind-loaded areas, but uncertainty exists as to how reactive the new snow layer may be even in non wind-loaded areas. Particularly when temperatures increase in the afternoon, as snow continues to fall and winds transport snow, expect more reactive slabs in more areas. Avalanche could be about 6 inches deep to possibly a foot or more in depth. 

    Track new snow depth and distribution as you gain elevation and change aspects. Look for clues like wind scoured snow surfaces, cornices, and drifts to show wind patterns near you. Feel for "upside down" snow, where surface snow is heavier than softer underlying snow. Especially if you see any signs of recent avalanches or experience long, shooting cracks, use these as obvious clues to avoid steep nearby terrain. When in doubt, avoid slopes greater than 35°.

    (12/26/2024)

    The crown of a skier triggered slab avalanche that ran in the new snow. Stevens Pass zone, SE, 5,200ft

Avalanche Discussion

Small amounts of wet avalanche activity may happen naturally or with a human trigger at lower elevations. Depending on how much the temperatures bump up in the afternoon, wet avalanche activity, if any, could shift a little higher than earlier in the day. If you see natural avalanches, if snow is wet and heavy, or you can push wet snow downhill, limit your exposure to steep nearby slopes. 

There simply isn't enough snow to result in avalanches in a large portion of the lower elevation band. Snow cover just barely exists from 2500-3500ft depending on what aspect you're facing or where in the zone you are, but it's been highly impacted by rain and warm temperatures and we don't believe there is much of an avalanche concern at that elevation. From 4000-4500ft, conditions may be more similar to the mid elevation band. 

We received around 1.5 feet of snow Wednesday night to Thursday, which makes up over half the snowpack above the 12/21 Solstice Crust. The neighboring Stevens Pass zone had several large human-triggered avalanches, and mitigation at the ski area also produced large avalanches. Meanwhile in the West North zone, with not quite 2ft of storm snow, layers were more stubborn and there was limited avalanche activity. 

About 6-8 inches of snow should fall overnight, and a foot may fall during the day Saturday with moderate wind. Temperatures will bump up a small amount on Saturday afternoon. Avalanche danger may differ from the forecast if the weather is different. If you're in the mountains, let us know what you see by submitting an observation.

Abgedeckte Regionen