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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2017–Mar 19th, 2017

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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The avalanche danger should decrease Sunday as a wet snowpack refreezes. Fresh but shallow wind slab will mostly likely be found above treeline. Shallow loose wet slides are likely on steeper solar aspects in the afternoon. Continue to avoid unsupported slopes due to the low likelihood - high consequence threat of wet slab or glide avalanches for one more day. 

Detailed Forecast

Decreasing snow showers along with rapid cooling Saturday night through Sunday morning should transition to mostly sunny skies by Sunday afternoon. Freezing levels will be on the cool side Sunday but late March sunshine will help bump up temperatures to near or above freezing at lower and mid-elevations. Winds are forecast to be fairly light on Sunday.

The avalanche danger should decrease Sunday as a wet snowpack refreezes.

Fresh but shallow wind slabs have likely built on NW to SE aspects, mainly above treeline. Watch for firmer wind transported snow on other aspects, especially in areas of complex terrain. All aspects will be listed until more information is received on recent general loading patterns. 

Generally small loose wet avalanches are likely at lower elevations and on solar slopes. Watch for surface wet snow deeper than a few inches, rollerballs or increasing small natural releases.

Although the likelihood of wet slab or glides avalanches has greatly decreased with the cooling trend, these avalanche problems may still occur 24 to 48 hours following a heavy rain event. Continue to avoid unsupported slopes, especially where you know there is a smooth underlying surface or slopes with glide cracks.

New snow accumulated with a cooling trend and diminishing winds, but small storm slabs may remain in isolated areas on Sunday. 

It is always a good plan to travel well back from ridges, suspected of cornice formation, or on steep slopes below cornices.

Snowpack Discussion

Weather and Snowpack 

The first week or so of March was very cool and snowy. NWAC stations along the west slopes of the Cascades piled up about 3 to 8 ft of snow with the most at Mt Baker.

The 2nd week of March was equally active with non-stop Pacific frontal systems pummeling the PNW. Unfortunately these systems delivered far more rain than snow. At least two regional avalanche cycles occurred during the stretch. Significant snowpack consolidation occurred over this period due to rainfall and warmer temperatures. 

After a short respite from the active weather pattern on Thursday, another strong low pressure system brought several inches of rain to the west slopes of the Cascades outside the Cascade Passes Friday night. 2.5 to 4 inches of water has been seen at Paradise, Crystal and Mt. Baker respectively over the last 24 hours ending at 5 PM PDT Saturday, mainly in the form of rain. The Cascade Passes picked up 6-8 inches of new snow Friday night before changing to rain later Saturday morning. Rapid cooling with the frontal passage produced about 8 inches of snow to accumulate at Mt. Baker with lesser amounts seen elsewhere along the west slopes of the Cascades. 

Recent Observations

North

NWAC observer Lee Lazarra was in the Mt Baker backcountry prior to the storm on Friday and reported a well settled snowpack with a stout crust. The recent snow ranged from 4 to 8 inches of recent dry snow depending upon wind distribution. There were some shallow wind slabs noted on lee slopes in higher terrain. 

Early Saturday morning, Mt. Baker pro-patrol reported widespread natural loose wet activity that had occurred Friday night off of Table Mt, Mt. Herman and Shuskan Arm. Very heavy rain overnight had increased the potential for wet slab/glide avalanches in the Mt. Baker area. 

Central

Alpental pro-patrol reported easy and widespread ski triggered 6-8" storm slabs on the upper half of Alpental Saturday morning with rain reaching the summit. Stevens Pass pro-patrol had similar results Saturday morning with widespread sensitive loose wet slides, up to size 2, natural and human triggered during the warming and switch to rain.  

South

Prior to the storm, NWAC pro-observer Jeremy Allyn was out in Bullion Basin in the Crystal area Friday and found little to no avalanche problems due to the re-freeze and stout crust. Very thin wind slabs were possible on steep lee or cross-loaded features above treeline.

Crystal patrol reported a natural cycle Friday night, presumably loose wet, but little to no results during avalanche control work Saturday morning. 

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the 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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the 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. 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.

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.