Boletín de aludes

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Thu
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
2 · Moderado
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 3 years ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

A refresh of snow with moderate winds will bring the potential for triggering small avalanches in wind-drifted snow. This wind-drifted snow tends to collect, such as below ridges and at the base of cliffs. If you feel hollow-like drifts of snow or observe cracks shooting away from you, travel around steep slopes.

Problemas de aludes

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The East South should enjoy a refresh of 4-6 inches of snow on Tuesday night. The accompanying moderate winds will form fresh wind slabs on lee aspects below ridgelines, convex terrain features, and confined gullies. These wind slabs may form over various surfaces, including slick crusts and weak, faceted snow, so they could be quite sensitive to triggering. Steep, confined, rocky terrain will be the most likely location to trigger one of these avalanches. Look for textured surfaces and "fat" looking drifts to identify potentially wind-loaded terrain. If you identify deep, hollow-sounding drifts or observe any obvious signs of instability, move to lower-angle terrain or sheltered forested areas. 

    With snow in the forecast, it won't be the spring day you have been waiting for, but increasing temperatures should once again put wet avalanches on your mind. Widespread crusts and wind-affected snow will likely limit the extent of this problem, but you may still see some small wet avalanches tomorrow. Pay attention to the consistency of the snow below you and move onto lower-angle terrain if wet, heavy snow is easily sliding downhill.

    If the new snow bonds poorly with the old snow surfaces, you could also see isolated, small storm slab avalanches in sheltered terrain. Use quick hand pits or test slopes to see how the new snow reacts. If it slides easily, stick to simple terrain with lower-angle slopes. 

    (3/6/2023)

    Shooting cracks, like in this example, is a sign that you could trigger a wind slab. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Some days this past week have felt like spring, but you should prepare for a return to winter with some fresh snow in the forecast. A storm favoring the East South could produce 4-6 inches of new snow. With warming temperatures, you may see some small wet avalanches in steep terrain at lower elevations. Pay attention to the consistency of the snow below you and move onto lower-angle terrain if wet, heavy snow is easily sliding downhill.

Last week, we saw a decent bit of wind and quite a lot of sunshine. Other than isolated reports of small wind slabs and wet loose avalanches, there also wasn't much avalanche activity or other signs of unstable snow. Southern aspects and lower elevations have thick crusts on the surface in most locations, while true north aspects still hold soft, recycled powder that is beginning to weaken and become faceted. The winds also left wind-packed snow, stiff slabs, and scoured slopes in many locations. With variable old snow surfaces, snow stability from slope to slope may vary significantly. Assess the new/old snow interface as you travel and step into new terrain slowly, assessing conditions before committing to complex terrain where a small avalanche could carry high consequences. 

At mid and upper elevations, a deep and layered winter snowpack exists. If you dig down, you will find older layers of melt-freeze crusts from around Christmas, MLK, and Valentine's day. These layers are not a concern for avalanches at this time but are a reminder that we have not transitioned to a spring snowpack quite yet. For more information about the deeper snowpack, check out my observation from Ahtanum Meadows this past week.

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