Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

On Wednesday, very warm temperatures and rain to the highest elevations will make it easy to trigger wet avalanches. These are likely to be larger at upper elevations where the snow surface is still dry. Avoid travel on steep terrain and steer clear of gullies, cliffs, and other terrain features that can increase the consequences of being caught.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

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

    The temperatures will be continuing to ramp up overnight on Tuesday, and snow levels could hit a high of 8500ft by Wednesday morning and soar even higher Wednesday night. Tonight and tomorrow may be the first time upper elevations see above freezing temperatures on the East side of the Cascades. You can easily trigger these wet avalanches in steep upper elevation terrain. Avoid traveling on steep terrain features or under cornices or cliffs where falling snow and cornice chunks may initiate wet loose avalanches. If you notice glopping and heavy, wet snow over dry snow surfaces, it's time to get off steep slopes. Wet snow problems change the snowpack rapidly and develop instability in minutes.

    (1/11/2022)

    Example of widespread wet avalanche activity.

    Photo: Mike Ward

Avalanche Discussion

Wednesday's will bring the highest freezing levels yet this winter, and upper elevations will likely see rain for the first time. NWAC forecasters made a trip to Ahtanum Meadows on Tuesday to take stock of conditions between storms. A generally strong and stable snowpack was found with a noticeable change as you ascended in elevation above ~5500 feet. Below this elevation, the stout crust sat on the surface of a relatively shallow snowpack that lacks layers of concern moving forward. With sustained temperatures above freezing, this crust may break down, and dry snow underneath will become wet, increasing the possibility of wet avalanches at lower elevations. At upper elevations, dry surface snow will quickly become saturated. 

Although we found a generally strong and stable snowpack in this location, the East South is a large and variable zone. Neighboring zones have not been so lucky with their stability ratings, and you could find that areas at the highest elevations or near the northern and western parts of our zone are more fragile than what was reported on Tuesday. Monday's information from NWAC forecasters near White Pass confirms that conditions are much different near the crest. Take the time to do your homework in the area you are recreating, and be sure you are not missing any red flag signs of instability before stepping into consequential terrain.

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