Avalanche Forecast

Fair cold weather is generally expected to continue over the Olympics and Cascades on Wednesday. Low clouds will probably linger from the Columbia Basin to the Cascade east slopes and the east side of Mt Hood.

But expect locally strong east winds to develop over the Olympics and Washington Cascades Tuesday night and Wednesday. Therefore new or further building wind slab should be the main avalanche problem on Wednesday. This new wind slab should be found mainly on NW to SE aspects on Wednesday especially at exposed locations such as around Snoqualmie, Crystal Mountain, Paradise and White Pass. There should be quite a bit of recent snow available for transport. Watch for firmer wind transported snow and remember that stiffer wind slab has the potential to propagate to larger avalanches.

Although NW to SE aspects will be indicated in the wind slab avalanche problem diagram remember to watch for firmer wind transported snow on all slope aspects or cross loaded slopes especially in areas with varied terrain and modified wind directions. Older wind slab may also linger on other slope aspects.

Weather and Snowpack

A low pressure system moved south over western Washington on Saturday night followed by cold Arctic air. NWAC stations along the west slopes had W-SW winds Saturday and 5-13 inches of snowfall by Sunday morning.

An unusual moist reverse orographic east flow caused snow mainly in the central to south Cascades Sunday afternoon and night. NWAC stations along the west slopes had a shift to NE winds and another 0-10 inches of snow on Monday morning with the most snow in the central to south part and further cooling.

Fair cold weather with east winds has been seen on Monday and Tuesday with clouds lingering from the Columbia Basin to the Cascade east slopes and the east side of Mt Hood.

Recent Observations

Consistent observations were received on New Year's Day from three NWAC pro-observer's out enjoying the after champagne, champagne powder! Their reports from the Mt Baker area, Stevens Pass and the Alpental Valley all indicated deep, low density surface conditions, right side profiles and good skiing. Crusts layers were buried fairly deeply and unreactive in tests (Solstice crust at Snoqualmie buried 90 cm on average).

East winds began to affect some areas by Monday.

The NPS ranger at Paradise on Monday reported low visibility with significant snow transport to SW-W slopes on Monday.

A couple reports area available via the NWAC Observations tab. A report from the Artist Point/Table Mountain area near Mt Baker indicated continued good stability with some wind slab starting to form on Monday. A skier on Mt Roosevelt at Snoqualmie Pass triggered a 10-20 inch wind slab and was carried but not injured in a WNW couloir on Monday.