Wet Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Very Likely
- Size
- 1.5–3
A large (D2) wet slab avalanche was reported in the West North zone Tuesday morning, in conditions not unlike those we're seeing in the West Central Zone. Check out the report he report HERE. Wet loose avalanches ranging in size from small to large were reported as well. A very large (D3) avalanche ran to the valley bottom on Stevens Pass yesterday. Glide cracks and glide avalanches were seen, and cornices are sagging.
We've got a myriad of wet snow problems that we're encountering- at earlier stages in the rain event wet loose avalanches were more common, but as the water percolates deeper into the snowpack, the problem will shift more towards wet slab avalanches.
By Wednesday morning 2-3 inches of rain will have fallen in the West Central zone over the last 36 hours. Snowlines started around 5000ft and are only increasing in elevation. It is alarming to see this much water falling on a snowpack that was previously mostly dry, low density snow.
Wet snow avalanches tend to be less predictable than dry snow avalanches, and the chances of a human triggering one are very likely. Natural avalanches are likely. For this reason, stay off of steep slopes, and avoid traveling beneath large, steep slopes as well.
(1/11/2022) Public Field Report: A wet slab avalanche near Excelsior Peak in the West North Zone, with conditions similar to what we could find in the West Central Zone. This probably occurred Tuesday morning. : NWAC Public Obs