Avalanche Forecast

Low - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Thursday night: 5-10 cm of low density snow with moderate SW wind. Alpine temperatures near -15.

Friday: Continued snow flurries 5-10 cm. SW wind building to strong. Alpine temperature near -15. 

Saturday: Continued snow flurries 5-10 cm. Strong SW wind. Alpine temperature warming to -5.

Sunday: Continued snow flurries 5-10 cm. Strong SW wind. Alpine temperature near -5.

On Wednesday numerous size 1 dry loose and soft slabs ran naturally and were easily reactive to skier triggering. On the Alaska side, strong outflow winds made for touchy avalanche conditions, with natural releases running to the road. We are expecting similar conditions in White Pass as the wind picks up.

Flurries continue to accumulate over 45 cm of low-density snow from Wednesday. As the wind picks up on Friday, all that new snow will likely be transported into wind slabs in lee terrain features. These fresh slabs will likely be reactive due to a poor bond to underlying surfaces including surface hoar on sheltered northerly aspects and hard slab in wind-affected areas.

In shallow snowpack areas a layer of loose facets sits at the bottom of the snowpack.

• Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of strong wind.
• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches may run surprisingly far.