Boletín de aludes

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
Ver en el mapa

Peligro de aludes

Sat
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
1 · Débil
Open full map
Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 5 years ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

Use caution on steep slopes that receive direct sun, you could trigger wet loose avalanches that run far. Expect variable travel conditions depending on aspect, sun and wind exposure, and elevation. Cornices may begin to sag and break off, minimize your time gambling with these overhead hazards if you enter larger terrain features.

Problemas de aludes

  • Loose Wet

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

    You may be able to trigger small loose wet avalanches in the sun as the daytime warms up. These could be large on steep, sustained slopes at higher elevations and near the crest where there is more recent snow. There is significant variability throughout the terrain, so take time to observe the snow surfaces. If you see pinwheels or rollerballs, the snow feels wet and heavy, you might be able to trigger a wet loose avalanche. You can use short, steep test slopes to check if snow will move downhill. Steep slopes with moist snow in the sun are prime locations for wet loose avalanches to start.

    Be aware of overhead hazards and terrain traps that can increase the consequences of being caught in even a small avalanche. Cornices have grown recently, and the warm temperatures may cause some to break off. Give these features a wide berth and avoid spending much time underneath them. If a large cornice breaks, it could in turn trigger a large avalanche on the slope below. 

    (2/9/2022) SE bowl of Big Slide Creek. Recent rollerballs and a small wet loose slide. Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

We're in a warm temperature trend, and many locations are not dipping below freezing at night. Observers have been reporting rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches the past couple of days. In nearby Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes, large wet loose avalanches ran on Thursday. Very light rain may have wetted snow surfaces at higher elevations near the crest on Wednesday. As a result, you may find thin surface crusts to ridgetop near the crest. Lower elevations and sunny slopes have been melting with each day as the sun gets higher in the sky. 

From Jan 30- Feb 2, storms left over a foot of snow over various surfaces, including weak faceted snow and strong melt-freeze crusts. Strong ridgeline winds have since redistributed much of that new snow into dense slabs, scoured west aspects, and created stiff wind-board surfaces. Travel conditions range from thick supportable crusts, wind stiffened surfaces, breakable crusts, corn-like soft snow, manky wet snow, or dry settled snow, and various degrees of in-between.

In some locations near the crest, weak faceted snow may exist above or beneath a crust from late January. We haven't seen avalanches on this layer yet in this zone, but an observer reported a very large collapse at 4,000ft near Eightmile Lake on Thursday. Observers continue to get whumphing collapses and shooting cracks in the East North zone. There is uncertainty on how this layer will react to the warming temperatures in the coming days. It is possible that a cornice failure or wet loose avalanche could trigger a deeper and surprisingly large slab avalanche. This layer is only 1-2ft deep, so you can dig down to identify and evaluate them. Look for weak, sugary snow over a firm melt-freeze crust. 

Regiones cubiertas