Boletín de aludes

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

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

Lo esencial

Expect moderate ridgeline winds and the potential for triggering avalanches in wind-drifted snow at high elevations. Look for textured surfaces and pillow-like drifts to identify and avoid these wind-loaded features. Travel with a springtime mindset and consider moving off steep, sunny slopes by the afternoon to avoid wet avalanches.

Problemas de aludes

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Another moderately windy day on Wednesday may build shallow, fresh wind slabs at upper elevations. Steep ridgelines, the base of cliffs, and confined alpine features above 6500ft are the most suspect slopes for new and lingering older wind slabs. We expect most wind slabs will be small, but the western edge of the zone had higher snow totals, and avalanches could be larger in these areas. On Saturday, there were reports from Mission Ridge of wind slabs running on an old layer of buried surface hoar. While unlikely, some older wind slabs may still run on this weak snow layer. The surface hoar layer is isolated in distribution, but there is potential for a large surprising avalanche on northerly aspects. 

    We have limited information from upper elevations, but the sustained winds have likely been drifting snow around at upper elevations. With this increased uncertainty, you should prepare to assess conditions as you travel and have an alternative plan to handle unsuspected conditions. If you see large pillow-like drifts, shooting cracks, or the snow feels hollow beneath you, simply travel on lower-angle slopes or steer around these wind-loaded features.

    (4/8/2023)

    Slab triggered by a cornice fall that ran on a surface hoar layer from the end of March.

    Photo: Mission Ridge Ski Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

We haven't fully transitioned to a spring snowpack at many elevations, and temperatures remain chilly for mid-April. However, at this time of the year, it's a good idea to have a spring diurnal mindset and plan on surfaces becoming moist in warming afternoon temperatures, particularly on sunny slopes. Clouds will likely roll in by the afternoon on Thursday, but springtime cloud forecasts can be tricky. If cloud cover is slow to materialize, we could see some wet loose avalanche activity. The April sun only takes a little time to warm snow surfaces, particularly in areas with fresh snow. We expect any wet loose avalanche activity to be small and isolated to steep, sunny slopes with over a few inches of new snow. There may also be some lingering glide avalanche possible on smooth rock faces. If you see a big frowning glide crack in the snowpack on steep, smooth terrain, give yourself a wide berth around these unpredictable avalanches. After last weekend's rain, cool overnight temperatures created a thick crust on most surfaces at mid and lower elevations. The recent rain and warm temperatures changed the landscape a bit, and you can expect challenging travel and lots of bare ground at lower-elevation trailheads. 

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