Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Cascades - South East.
In adjacent zones, weak early season snow has been buried by recent storms, creating dangerous avalanche conditions. No specific snowpack information is available for this zone. Mitigate the high uncertainty by traveling cautiously and choosing moderately angled and supported terrain away from overhead hazards.
Discussion
DiscussionÂ
Low snow conditions continue to limit the overall avalanche hazard in the East Slopes South forecast zone. Near and above treeline, we may be approaching the snow depth threshold for avalanches. Â
Forecast Schedule
General avalanche and snowpack information will be provided for this area during the winter. However, at this time we do not have enough specific snowpack information to issue an avalanche hazard rating for the East Slopes South zone. Â
Snowpack Discussion
Regional Synopsis 20181214
We made it through our first strong winter storm and are headed into a weekend with dangerous and fickle avalanche conditions. Thick slabs of new snow (2-5 feet) are perched above a weak layer of faceted crystals. Avalanches triggered on this layer could be very large and life-threatening.
Reports continue to come in of very large natural and explosives triggered avalanches in the northern and eastern zones. For perspective, several of these slides have been classified as D3, or large enough to destroy a house.
Anyone accessing alpine areas should limit their exposure to areas where avalanches start, run and stop. In some places, the weak snow will talk to you by whumpfing and cracking. In other places, the heavy blanket of new snow is thick enough that it can give a false sense of stability while it masks the dangerous layering below.
Approximate snow totals from 12/10 - 12/14: Â
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Mt. Baker: 55â
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Washington Pass: 29â
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Stevens Pass: 37â
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Snoqualmie Pass: 28â
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Paradise: 38â
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Mt. Hood Meadows: 13â
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Olympics: mostly rain
The change in the snowpack is pretty dramatic with elevation. The height of snow decreases rapidly below 4500â at Baker and Washington Pass, 5500â at Crystal/Rainier. The Passes have better low elevation coverage, but it's still pretty thin below 4000â. With additional warm storms in the forecast, this pattern is expected to continue for a while.
Be cautious and get home safe.