Avalanche Forecast

Avalanches will be unlikely but not impossible Tuesday. 

Small loose wet avalanches are possible on very steep solar slopes receiving direct sunshine along with warming temperatures in the south and central Cascades. Even a small loose wet avalanche could be dangerous near terrain traps. Increasing clouds and winds will dampen warming in the northeast Cascades near and above treeline by mid-day and eventually mitigate the warming in the central-east Cascades. 

Cornices have grown very large over the last several weeks. These looming hazards threaten slopes below. Cornice fall is very difficult to predict but can become more likely with daytime warming and direct sunshine. Minimize your exposure if traveling below these features by selecting routes and re-grouping locations away from overhead hazard.

Use appropriate travel techniques to minimize your exposure to avalanche terrain, overhead cornices, and steep icy slopes. 

A relatively stable snowpack exists in most locations along the east slopes of the Cascades. Gusty winds at the end of last week formed shallow and isolated winds slabs above treeline. These wind slabs are now several days old and becoming unlikely to trigger. In shaded and sheltered areas around Washington Pass, 4-8 inches of soft snow now sits over the most recent crust. On slopes that have recently received direct sun, spring like snow conditions can be found in the afternoons.

Significantly less snow was received in areas further east and south resulting in limited avalanche concerns.

Warm weather the first week of February has resulted in a strong and consolidated mid and lower snowpack in many locations. While we are tracking several old crusts around the east slopes of the Cascades, there are no significant layers of concern in the snowpack.

In the last week of January, observers reported isolated buried surface hoar on top of the 1/16 crust. This persistent weak layer was found or thought to be the cause of several avalanches. A recent observation (2/11) from the Mission Ridge area confirmed this layer is still present and reactive in some locations. Though it’s no longer a main concern, use caution when traveling in areas further east of the crest where this layer may survive. Snow profiles and snowpack tests are the best means to confirm the presence of this layer.

Observations

North

Over the last 4 days, avalanche professionals in the Washington Pass area have reported very isolated small wind slabs. These lingering wind slabs are gaining strength and becoming unreactive. Above treeline observations indicate winds have created a variety of snow surface conditions. On southerly aspects, observations report the sun affecting surface snow later in the day. Observations from professionals near Hart's Pass indicate surface hoar up to 1 cm thick on all aspects up to a few hundred feet below ridgecrest on Sunday. 

Central

A recent observation from the Mission Ridge/Lake Clara area.