Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Stevens Pass.
Help us improve the avalanche forecast! https://avbulletin.avalancheresearch.ca/
The snowfall is beginning to stack up, and with it comes increased avalanche danger. Wind slabs may be reactive and become large at upper elevations. Wet loose avalanches may run far, and pack a punch. Stay tuned to the quickly changing conditions that you are likely to experience. Plan to step back, and travel with caution near steep slopes on Thursday.
Discussion
Snow and Avalanche Discussion
A solid spring storm is moving through that is already accumulating quite quickly. The avalanche danger is on the rise once again, and be prepared to evaluate quickly changing conditions on the fly. If you venture above treeline, you may find colder, winter-like avalanche conditions from snow that fell since Friday. The April 5th interface is likely to be found 12" to 20" below the surface, and may still harbor cold winter-like layers. At mid and lower elevations most of the snow from the past week has been wetted and frozen at least once. Observers near Grace Lakes reported breakable, frozen surfaces and challenging travel on Monday. On Sunday, observers reported a widespread cycle of natural and triggered loose wet avalanches in the recent snow on steep slopes above 4,000ft and on all aspects. One slab avalanche occurred on an east aspect, 5,000ft near the ridge at Gemini Pass. The recent snow is sitting on crusts with underlying weak, wet snow.
Other considerations are all the hazards that come with spring in the mountains. Factor in a good margin for error as hard to predict events like cornice fall, glide avalanches, icefall, and rockfall may occur sporadically.Â
Debris from a natural loose wet avalanche (D2), Lichtenberg Mtn, SW, 5,000ft. 4/7/2019. Photo: Josh Hirshberg
Â
Snowpack Discussion
April 9th, 2019
Spring Conditions
The snowpack and weather have shifted solidly to spring-like conditions. A major warm-up started in mid-March with a prolonged period of strong sun and warm temperatures. This created a major difference between the snowpack on sunny slopes and that on shaded aspects. More recently, warm, wet, and sometimes weak spring storms have brought more rain than snow. The bulk of the precipitation with these storms focused on the southern forecast zones. Even so, mid-elevation rain established a dramatic snow line (about 4-4,500ft) below which the snowpack is minimal to non-existent in most zones. Going into the second week in April, intense snow and wind drove a prolonged period of High danger at Mt Hood.
A crown of a very large avalanche (D3+) above Mt. Hood Meadows resort. 04/08/2019. Photo Credit: Peter Moore.
Challenging Weather Forecasts
The Cascades have been experiencing unsettled spring weather with rain to many low and mid-elevation slopes and snow at upper elevations. Spring weather forecasts in the Cascades are notoriously challenging. With these storms, the weather models have been inconsistent and the accuracy has been limited to 12-24 hours, at best. A trend has been significant precipitation amounts for the Mount Hood area and other south-central Cascade volcanoes.Â
Very bare southeast aspects of Rock Mtn/Nason Ridge. April 2nd. Photo: Josh Hirshberg
Shrinking Snowpack
From the peak height of snow in mid to late February through early April, mountain weather stations in the 4,000-5,000ft range showed an average of 27% decrease in height of snow. The percentage decrease ranged from 22-29%. This year's spring snowmelt is much earlier than normal. If you’re traveling in the mountains, the loss of snow coverage is most noticeable on southerly, sun-exposed slopes and below 4,000ft. On northerly aspects and slopes above 5,500ft, the snowpack has seen less dramatic changes and has even maintained some dry layers. On upper elevation shaded slopes there’s still potential for large wet slab avalanches with prolonged warm temperatures or high elevation rain events.
A natural loose wet avalanche (D1), Lichtenberg Mtn, N, 4,850ft. 4/7/2019. Photo: Will Govus
Spring avalanche considerations
As you head into the mountains there are a few questions to ask yourself common to spring avalanche conditions:
-
Can you trigger avalanches due to new snow?
-
If so, would they be storm slabs or wind slabs? And where?
-
-
Can you trigger avalanches due to warming or rain?
-
Will recent snow be warmed enough to result in loose wet avalanches?
-
Will these avalanches be predictable point releases or more destructive wet slabs or gouging loose wet avalanches?
-
What are the recent high and low temperatures and the forecasted temperatures during the time you’ll be in the mountains?
-
How is the cloud cover contributing to the melting or freezing of surface snow? Did clear skies allow for a sufficient overnight freeze? Will the sun be strong enough to weaken surface layers?
-
Debris from a natural loose wet avalanche (D2), Lichtenberg Mtn, SW, 5,000ft. 4/7/2019. Photo: Josh Hirshberg
Other Considerations
In addition to daily avalanche hazard, the early snowmelt has created other travel considerations. Some roads and lower elevation slopes may not have enough continuous snow coverage for travel on snow machines. Holes melted around rocks, trees, and creeks could create a fall hazard. When nighttime temperatures and cloud cover allow for surface freezes, bring appropriate equipment to mitigate slip and fall hazard on steep slopes.
The last daily avalanche forecast for all zones will be issued for April 14th. Statewide mountain weather forecast and weekly avalanche condition advisories will continue through May. The weather station data is available year round. Keep checking the advisories and help us out by submitting observations when you are in the mountains.
Glide avalanches and holes opening up in rocky terrain on an east aspect of Mount Herman. 4/3/19 Photo: Andrew Kiefer
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
It may take a few hours for the new snow to begin to become wet and sticky, but it probably will. Even with cloud cover, the strong spring sun may be no match, especially on steep south facing slopes and all aspects below 5,000ft. Rollerballs and pinwheels are good signs that loose wet avalanches may follow. These slides may run far, entraining all of the recent storm snow. They may pack a punch, and have can have severe consequences if they carry you into terrain traps like trees, gullies or over cliffs. Be careful of going underneath any steep slopes, as they may hit you from above.
Release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. They generally move slowly, but can contain enough mass to cause significant damage to trees, cars or buildings. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Travel when the snow surface is colder and stronger. Plan your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the afternoon. Move to colder, shadier slopes once the snow surface turns slushly. Avoid steep, sunlit slopes above terrain traps, cliffs areas and long sustained steep pitches.
Several loose wet avalanches, and lots of pinwheels and roller balls.
Loose wet avalanches occur where water is running through the snowpack, and release at or below the trigger point. Avoid terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, or tree wells. Exit avalanche terrain when you see pinwheels, roller balls, a slushy surface, or during rain-on-snow events.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Wind Slabs
Cool temperatures and moderate westerly winds may drift the new snow into thickened slabs near wind exposed features. Pay attention to quickly changing conditions as you gain elevation. These may be more reactive and larger the higher up you go. Wind slabs will be localized to leeward slopes near the top of ridges. Watch for fresh cornices and areas of deeper drifts where you feel stiffer snow at upper elevations. Steer around obvious drifts and slopes over 35 degrees where you see cracks in the snow.
Release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Wind Slabs form in specific areas, and are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features. They can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind-scoured areas..
Wind Slab avalanche. Winds blew from left to right. The area above the ridge has been scoured, and the snow drifted into a wind slab on the slope below.
Wind slabs can take up to a week to stabilize. They are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features and can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind scoured areas.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1