The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate.
Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
The Bottom Line: Expect the warmest temperatures of the winter, so far. Warming, sun, and uncertainty of how the snow will respond at upper elevations is keeping the danger heightened. If you are heading to higher slopes, use caution on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Stay off of steep slopes if you see shooting cracks in the snow or experience collapses.
Summary
Snow and Avalanche Discussion
With warming and sun, there is uncertainty about the snowpack at upper elevations. Most loose wet avalanches are a few days old. Watch for wet avalanches if you see soft, wet snow on sunny slopes and at low elevations.
A storm on the 23rd caused a widespread natural avalanche cycle throughout the Cascades. Many large paths ran in the area, entraining wet snow as the debris ran through the water saturated lower elevation snowpack. Most of these appear to have ran within the storm snow, but some may have taken out persistent weak layers. Natural slab avalanches were report as recently as Friday in the Wenatchee Mountains. It rained up to around 5,500ft, but this didn't affect deeply buried weak layers. Check out the Regional Synopsis tab for details on the storm and avalanche activity.
Weather Forecast
Sun 27th Jan 06:32
- Kenny Kramer
Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Monday
A strong ridge of high pressure will remain centered just offshore Sunday and Monday. This will maintain mostly fair weather and mild temperatures at higher elevations.
A shift from westerly flow across the Cascades and passes to easterly winds will occur Sunday evening and strengthen Monday. This will strengthen the inversion and maintain cooler temperatures at lower elevations as well as increasing low clouds and fog near the passes Monday.
Temperatures remain very mild for mid-winter under the strong high pressure with several NWAC stations in the low to mid 40's early Sunday morning.
Regional Synopsis
Sat 26th Jan 09:00
The late January pause...
Now that we’re well into winter and in the midst of a prolonged period of quieter weather, this is a good time to assess the current snowpack. Most areas are hovering around 75% of average snowpack depth for the season to date. Many of this season’s storms have brought at least some rain to mid elevations at the passes and west of the Cascade Crest. Multiple periods of cool, clear weather formed persistent weak layers.
Icicles hanging off of a snow feature are evidence of recent rain and daily temperatures swings. Stevens Pass. Photo: Josh Hirshberg
Recent conditions
A prolonged period of warm quiet weather followed a storm on January 22-23rd that impacted most of the region. This weather system changed snow at the surface of the snowpack, drove an avalanche cycle, and tested or changed the latest persistent weak layers. The storm ramped up late on the 22nd in most areas. Intense precipitation (mostly snow) fell by dark with strong wind and warming temperatures. In the early morning hours of the 23rd snow switched to rain at the passes and western zones. Cold air to the east maintained low-density snowfall at most locations well east of the crest. In some areas, especially east of the crest, a new weak layer may have been buried at the January 22nd interface.
Wet loose avalanches on Mt Herman, near Mt Baker from 1/23. Photo: Lee Lazzara
January 23rd avalanche cycle
The bulk of recently reported avalanche activity occurred on January 23rd with high precipitation rates and wind loading in the early morning hours or with liquid water in the snow from rain or warming and sun during the day.
At the passes and in the western zones, reported avalanches were generally running either at the new/old snow interface or within the new snow. Observers reported a mix of soft slab, wet loose avalanches from near and below treeline with a few reports of shallow slabs above treeline. As of January 24th observations at upper elevations have been limited, due to lack of visibility and access.
In the eastern zones at areas like Washington Pass, Icicle Canyon, and the Wenatchee Mountains, some reported slab avalanches were confirmed or suspected to have involved persistent weak layers. Most notable is the January 17th surface hoar/near surface facets. There were a few reports of widely propagating avalanches, up to destructive size 3. Wind loading was a factor in many avalanches that released at upper elevations. Observers reported a widespread point releases on steep sunny slopes in the new snow where skies cleared on the 23rd.
A highlighted crown of a slab avalanche in Wenatchee Bowl, adjacent to numerous loose avalanches. Avalanches ran on January 23rd in recently fallen snow. Stevens Pass. Photo: Josh Hirshberg
Persistent Weak Layers (PWLs)
The latest round of snow, rain, and warming that tipped the balance of the snowpack was a good test of existing persistent weak layers. While the ever-changing snowpack keeps us busy tracking changes, some trends are apparent.
West Slopes and Passes: With a few exceptions, persistent weak layers have gained enough strength through rounding or melt-freeze to no longer be a concern for triggering avalanches. The main uncertainty lies with the January 17th surface hoar at upper elevations near Stevens Pass. This PWL is no longer a concern below treeline or in other zones. It appears that surface hoar generally wasn’t a player in avalanche activity near and west of the Cascade Crest. At low elevations, it has either been wetted by rain or is capped with crusts and moist snow. There’s reason to prioritize other issues, like challenging travel conditions, below treeline.
A slab avalanche on 1/23 (likely ran on the January 17th surface hoar) in Varden Creek drainage, near Washington Pass. The crown extends out of the photo, over 300ft wide.
Eastern Cascades: Triggering avalanches on persistent weak layers is possible east of the Cascade Crest. How much of a concern and exactly which PWL depends on where you are, north to south and east to west, in the range. The January 17th surface hoar/near surface facets is the main concern in the upper snowpack. Areas of shallower snowpack that lie further east of the Cascade Crest will have weaker snow and more pronounced weak layers in the mid to lower snowpack. In the Wenatchee Mounains you may find another layer of surface hoar (January 3rd) in the middle of the snowpack as well as weak facets near the ground. In places, like Washington Pass, the January 22nd surface hoar may become an issue with future storms.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Large avalanches will be easier to trigger after the recent storm added to the slab over the weak layer. You may be able to trigger avalanches more easily in the Wenatchee Mountains. East of Hwy 97, the main concern lies in triggering the whole snowpack to the ground. Here, the snowpack is shallow and largely variable. Avoid areas with thick slabs adjacent to thin, rocky slopes.
Further west, the main layer of concern is a layer of surface hoar that was buried on the 17th. You can find this layer down a foot or two below the surface. Look for shooting cracks, and listen closely for whumphs. Snowpack tests can also help identify these weak layers. Lack of evidence in one profile or test often isn't enough information to make sound decisions from. Minimize exposure to large, steep slopes. Put a large buffer of terrain between where you travel and any steep slopes.
Aspects:
All aspects.
Elevations:
All elevations.
Likelihood
Likely
Expected Size
2 - 3
Wind Slabs
Another warm, sunny day will keep concern for triggering recent wind slabs. Where snow has been drifted, dense slabs have formed. More freshly drifted slabs are the easiest to trigger. When you find more than 6” of snow has drifted in or accumulated, it’s time to evaluate it. You can check how the new snow is bonding by using small, inconsequential test slopes and quick hand pits.
