Boletín de aludes

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
Ver en el mapa

Peligro de aludes

Fri
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
2 · Moderado
Open full map
Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 4 years ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

While the Pass may see a few more showers on Thursday, much of the hazard has shifted to wind-affected areas. Look for subtle clues like small drifts and the snow missing from trees, to help you identify and avoid steep wind-loaded slopes. Because the winds shifted so many times during these storms, you could find wind slabs on any aspect and at all elevations.

Problemas de aludes

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–2

    Conditions at Snoqualmie Pass are deep! Except for in wind-affected areas, much of the recent storm snow is right-side-up and unconsolidated. Pay attention as you travel out of the forest and into more open terrain. Some of the visual observations we often use to identify wind slabs may not be so obvious. Look for subtle clues like small drifts, or changes in the depth or feel of the surface snow. These signs can help you identify potentially wind-loaded areas. Steer around smooth pillow-like drifts on steep slopes to avoid this problem. 

    Recent winds at the Pass have been out of the East and stronger at lower elevations than at ridge-tops. This could create some interesting loading patterns. While wind slabs won’t be very widespread, don’t be surprised if you find them on a variety of aspects and even at lower elevations.

    (4/13/2022)

    Subtle clues of possible wind slabs can help you locate and avoid this potential hazard.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

The wintery weather pattern continues for the Pass and reports of deep powder conditions roll in every day. We’re expecting snow showers to continue on Thursday. Even though this doesn’t look like a big snow producer, you could experience locally heavy showers with graupel. This may quickly accumulate an inch or two of new snow. The big question in the avalanche forecast is, of course, the sky. We’re expecting mostly cloudy conditions, with cool temperatures and an easterly breeze. This should help minimize the impact of any short-lived sun breaks. However, the April sun is strong, and it may not take long before you see natural loose avalanches. The snow shedding from trees, rollerballs, and small teardrop-shaped slides will let you know the danger is starting to change. If you experience prolonged sunshine and see these conditions developing, it's time to get away from these steep sunny slopes. 

Since April 8th, the Pass racked up impressive snow totals, with more than 2 feet at lower elevations and nearly 3.5 feet higher in the terrain. While storm layers resulted in a widespread small slab avalanche cycle Sunday (4/10), since that time, nearly all of the reported avalanches have been small loose dry sluffs. This new snow sits over the easy to find 4/8 crust. You can use this snowpack marker to focus any of your observations on the overlying snow. It can also help highlight deeper/wind-loaded and shallower/wind-stripped areas. We don’t expect any avalanches to fail below this crust layer.

Regiones cubiertas