Avalanche Forecast

Tuesday Outlook

Moist SW flow will carry warm frontal precipitation over the region on Tuesday with precipitation rates and snow levels quickly ramping up during the day along with alpine winds. Moderate to locally heavy precipitation should continue Tuesday night.  Moderate easterly flow through the Cascade Passes may initially allow for a brief period of snow Tuesday morning before quickly changing to rain. In the same vein, the NE Cascades including Washington Pass will be slower to warm Tuesday but rain should eventually push into the 6000-7000 ft range Tuesday night. 

The avalanche hazard will peak at different times across the region but we can say that travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended on Tuesday, especially above treeline due to the incoming storm system that will bring locally heavy precipitation and a strong warming trend.

Poor and generally wet snow conditions along with increasing avalanche danger are expected in all areas by late in the day.  Loose wet avalanches will be the most likely and widespread avalanche problem, but larger and more dangerous wet slab avalanches or even glide avalanches that release to ground over smooth rock bed surfaces are possible in areas/elevations receiving the heaviest amounts of rainfall. At higher elevations above treeline, storm slabs will build quickly and become more reactive later in the day. Best to wait this one out and to look ahead for when winter might return.

Remember that closed ski areas without avalanche mitigation are equivalent to backcountry terrain!  Also, numerous early season non-avalanche hazards exist for backcountry travelers such as open creeks and barely buried rocks and trees.  

Our incredibly active November continues with another storm Sunday afternoon through Monday morning that dropped about 4-6" of snow in the Cascade Passes, 10-13" of snow at Mt. Baker, Paradise and the upper elevations of Crystal Mountain while Mt. Hood saw mostly rain into their above treeline elevation band. Light rain and snow showers followed Monday afternoon.  Areas below 5000' may have seen a natural shed cycle Sunday through Monday during periods of above freezing temperatures and/or rain.  

Ski Area Reports

On Monday morning Mt. Baker pro-patrol noted 12" natural storm slabs that ran overnight out of the area and that 12-24" storm slabs that were triggered with explosives inbounds.