West Slopes South

An incoming storm on Monday evening may brush the West South before nightfall. Watch for avalanche activity if you notice rain falling on dry snow or breaking down the surface crust. Expect difficult travel conditions due to an early-season snowpack. 

NWAC’s weather station at Paradise hit 57 degrees on Sunday, and the station at Mount St. Helens hit 60! While other sites around the West South didn’t quite have the same eye-popping numbers, they certainly weren’t indicative of the darkest and coldest days of the year. In fact, we’re in the midst of a multiday warm spell where temperatures haven’t dipped below freezing, even at night. However, most nights have been clear, allowing a crust to develop on the surface.

Expect the warm temperatures to continue on Monday but not quite reach beach weather like it did on Sunday. You could encounter drizzle or a brief period of moderate showers by day’s end. While there isn’t much dry snow around for the rain to destabilize, keep an eye out for small wet avalanche activity if the surface crust starts breaking down.

Variable conditions exist throughout the zone. You could encounter firm\icy surfaces, breakable crust, wet snow, frozen tracks, old avalanche debris, and irregular rain runnels. Early-season obstacles such as flowing creeks, open holes, downed logs, shrubs, trees, and rocks could lead to difficult travel. 

Skiers have reported fun turns in dry snow on shaded aspects at upper elevations or spring-like turns on sun-softened slopes in the midday hours. In the neighboring Snoqualmie Pass zone, snowmobilers have reported adequate coverage for fun riding conditions. Are you out and about enjoying the mountains? Shoot us some pictures and information about what you see by submitting an observation.