Boletín de aludes

Northern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Sun
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
2 · Moderado
Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 5 years ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

The new snow that fell on Thursday has been followed by moderate Northwest winds with strong gusts.  These conditions have likely blown the snow into slabs on leeward sides of ridgelines as well as cross-loaded mid-slope terrain features.  Look for signs of windloading such as pillowy rounded features or rippled snow surface, and avoid these areas especially where even a small avalanche could carry you over consequential terain.  At lower elevations, mostly stable snowpack condtions are expected, but if the sun comes out, avoid steep south-facing slopes in the afternoon.

Problemas de aludes

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–1.5

    In the Southern Wallowas 5" of new snow fell on Thursday and the Northern Wallowas received 2-3". This snowfall has been followed by moderate northwest winds with stronger gusts.  Last evening wind gusts at the Kip Rand Station were in the 20's with sustained winds in the teens.  These conditions will have loaded the leeward sides of ridgelines with fresh windslabs that sit on a mostly firm snow surface.  Look for wind loading on mostly east to south-facing slopes and evaluate exposed steep terrain that could have been crossloaded by the northwest winds.  Avoid areas where you notice signs of wind loading such as rounded pillowy snow drifts, hollow sounding snow, or snow with a rippled snow texture, especially if these areas are above consequential terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, or dense trees.  

  • Loose Wet

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

    Daytime warming today could produce shallow wet loose avalanches on mostly south-facing aspects >35 degrees at mid to lower elevations. Look out for signs of wet loose avalanche activity such as pinwheels or roller balls.  If you step off of your sled or out of your boards and sink up to your ankles in wet cohesionless snow, wet loose avalanches are likely in that area and you should avoid terrain steeper than 35 degrees.  

Avalanche Discussion

Lower elevations should provide nice riding conditions with a mostly strong snowpack and 3-5" of fresh dense snow on top.  Utilize hand shears and small test slopes to test for how well the new and old snow is bonded.  The 1/6 layer in the Southern Wallowas was less of a noticable crust, and no significant observations have been made around this layer in the last week.  As always, look for signs of localized instability such as recent avalanches, shooting cracks in the new snow, whumphing or collapsing of the snowpack, or strong over weak snow in your snowpits.  Observations from the Northern Wallowas yesterday indicated strong northerly winds with significant wind transport and loading occuring on south-facing slopes at upper elevations. Avoid steep (>35 degree) E-S terrain at upper elevations where wind-deposited snow could produce wind slabs sensitve to the weight of a rider or skier. Check out this recent observation from Wing Ridge

Temperatures have cooled the snow down overnight with a solid refreeze in most locations, but if the sun comes out today southern exposures may become unstable in the afternoon. If  you notice signs of wet loose avalanches on south-facing terrain, stay off of slopes greater than 35 degrees.  

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