Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

You can still trigger a large avalanche in wind drifted snow at upper elevations. If you get unlucky, you may be able to trigger a wider and more surprising avalanche on a weak layer buried 1-2’ deep.  Carefully evaluate the snowpack and avoid steep wind loaded slopes. 

 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Freshly formed wind slabs will remain reactive on Tuesday.  New snow from the last 24 hours is available for transport and will continue to build the size of the existing slabs. These wind slabs are easily 1-3 ‘ thick now. You will find these areas of wind drifted snow in all the usual areas (under cornices, lee-sides of ridges, & scattered in the alpine), however you may find them further down slopes and in lower elevation areas due to recent gusty winds.  

    Be observant of the snow you are traveling on and look for signs of recent wind loading.  Fresh cornices, wind rippled snow, pillow-like slabs are all signs of wind blown snow. Cracks shooting out from your machine or feet are a clear indicator that you've found a reactive wind slab. Steer around steep slopes if you observe these signs of wind loaded snow, see shooting cracks, or hear audible whumphs. 

    The neighboring east- central zone has seen a number of recent avalanches failing on deeper buried weak layers - such as buried surface hoar. Consider the consequence of triggering a wind slab that steps-down and produces a larger, more destructive slab avalanche. 

    (12/3/2022) A shooting crack in a wind-loaded pocket. One of the red-flag signs of instability that shouldn't be ignored. Photo: Dallas Glass

  • Loose Wet

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

    A high-pressure ridge building may allow for some sunshine to develop across the zone.  This filtering sunshine will moisten snow surfaces on south facing slopes. Much of the current surface snow is dry, so you may start observing rollerballs and pinwheels initiating  shortly after the sun hits the snow surface.  Once you start seeing these signs - that's a good time to start thinking about steering around steep south-facing slopes.  

    Once the sun hits the dry snow, you may start observing small wet loose slides like this. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

The neighboring east-central zone has observed numerous avalanche observations over the last 24 hours.  These avalanches are failing on a layer of buried surface hoar that was buried on January 4th.  These slabs have generally been 12-18 inches thick.  Similar weather patterns and a similar snowpack structure makes me believe that this avalanche problem may exist across the east-south as well.  Leading up to January 4th, an observation pointed at widespread surface hoar existing on Peaches Ridge, near the Little Naches drainage. 

With the lack of recent observations and uncertainty regarding the distribution of this buried surface hoar in the east-south, it will be critical to take a step back and ease into terrain slowly. Be sure to gather snowpack information and look for buried layers before committing yourself to potentially deadly, steep open slopes. 

If you get out into the East-South, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation. 

 

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