Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 10th, 2018 10:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is
NWAC,
Northwest Avalanche Center
Avalanches are unlikely but not impossible Sunday. Travel with normal caution and use appropriate travel techniques to minimize your exposure to avalanche terrain. Non –avalanche hazards such as glide cracks and icy snow surfaces exist.
Summary
Detailed Forecast
No avalanche problems are expected on Sunday. Another day of cool, dry weather will continue to allow the snowpack to gain strength. While avalanches are unlikely they are not impossible. Always carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Use appropriate travel techniques to minimize your exposure to avalanche terrain.
Isolated pockets of wind deposited snow have been observed on exposed features near and above treeline. If you identify areas of wind deposited snow, avoid these isolated pieces of terrain.
Other non-avalanche-related hazards exist Sunday. Glide cracks, creeks, and openings within the snowpack have formed during recent warm wet weather. Falling into these holes poses a danger to backcountry travelers. Icy snow surfaces will create dangerous travel conditions. Avoid steep slippery slopes where stopping a fall may be difficult.
Snowpack Discussion
A few inches of recent snow sits on top of a strong supportable crust layer. This crust layer extends in to the near treeline band and potentially higher. Sunny weather Saturday affected the recent surface snow on south aspects at all elevations.
Warm and wet weather the first week of February created a strong and consolidated mid and lower snowpack. While we are tracking several deeper crust layers, there are no layers of concern at this time.
Wind transported snow has been observed near treeline on exposed slopes. Limited snow available for transport has limited the development of Wind Slabs in these regions.
No recent observations have been received from above treeline. Uncertainty exists at this elevation band.
Observations
Central
NWAC forecaster Josh Hirshberg was in the Stevens Pass area Saturday. Josh reported 1-2 inches of soft snow on top of a strong supportable crust. Observations confirmed wind transportation near and above treeline Thursday and Friday.
Avalanche professionals in the Snoqualmie Pass area Saturday reported the surface crust was supportable to skis but not always boots. They observed the snowpack is continuing to drain water from the recent warm wet weather.
On Friday NWAC Forecaster Dallas Glass toured in the Steven’s Pass area finding no obvious avalanche problems. Up to 2” of recent snow was decently bonded to a surface crust with moist to wet snow below.
South
No recent observations
Valid until: Feb 11th, 2018 10:00AM
