Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 30th, 2018–Dec 31st, 2018

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

.

Stubborn wind slabs exist in unusual locations including well below ridgelines and on the sides of mid-slope gullies. Use visual clues like snow blown off of trees, new snow drifts, and fresh cornices to gauge where wind slabs have formed. If the sun comes out, expect small, natural loose avalanches to occur on steep and rocky slopes.

Discussion

Avalanche and Snowpack Discussion

We have no recent observations post-weekend storm from this zone. Based on neighboring weather stations and radar and satellite information, we estimate 6-18 inches of snow fell Saturday night through Sunday in the Mountain Loop area and that moderate west winds moved a significant amount of snow around near and above treeline. 

In the neighboring Mt. Baker zone, small avalanches were witnessed in wind affected snow Sunday. Older and larger avalanches reported in this area likely occurred during heavy precipitation Saturday, failing on a layer of buried surface hoar that was preserved on N-E aspects above 4500 ft. Our observations from the area show this layer is present in very few locations. Due to its limited distribution and recent heavy loading, it is not thought to be a problem at this time.

We removed the deep persistent slab from our avalanche problem list. It has been more than one week since our last reported avalanche on this layer. Given its depth and the lack of activity, we believe this layer is very unlikely to produce new avalanches. We will continue to monitor this weak old snow, and update you if we find any new information.

Snowpack Discussion

Updated Regional Synopsis coming soon

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.