Avalanche Forecast

Avalanches are unlikely today, though not impossible. No significant avalanche problems exist. Continue to use normal caution. Always carry a beacon, shovel, and probe and use travel practices that minimize your exposure to avalanche terrain. If you venture above treeline, know that observations have been almost non-existent at that elevation for 2-3 weeks. Use caution and take time to assess the upper snowpack and any recently fallen or drifted snow above treeline.

That said there are some remaining considerations to stay safe in the mountains. While Glide avalanches are unlikely, they can be dangerously large and difficult to predict. It’s worth giving these avalanches a little more time before we forget about them. Avoid stopping under slopes with steep rock slabs that are still holding snow. Avoid traveling near glide cracks as they can be dangerous if you fall in them. Many snow surfaces may be firm and icy. A slip and fall in steep terrain above rocks or cliffs could be today’s biggest hazard in the mountains.

No avalanches have been reported on the West Slopes and passes in the past 48 hours. While there are still a couple deeply buried crusts and some unfrozen wet grains in the snowpack, there are no layers of concern in this zone. Observers reported Loose Wet and shallow triggered Wind Slab avalanches in the first half of the week. A number of large Glide avalanches occurred on February 3rd and 4th.

Cold and clear conditions are moving into the region for the first time in weeks. Freezing levels have been at or well below pass elevations since Thursday night. Light rain fell to upper elevations on Wednesday and Thursday with freezing levels reaching up to 10,000ft in places. Strong and gusty winds drifted what little snow was available to transport on the highest slopes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Any drifts or slabs that formed were shallow and were soon moistened by rain and are no longer a major concern.

Observations

Steven’s Pass

On Friday NWAC Forecaster Dallas Glass toured in the Steven’s Pass area finding no obvious avalanche problems and challenging travel conditions. Up to 2” of recent snow was decently bonded to a breakable surface crust with unfrozen moist to wet snow below. The snowpack consisted almost entirely of melt-freeze forms.

Snoqualmie Pass

On Wednesday, Forecasters Dallas Glass and Josh Hirshberg visited uncompacted terrain near Alpental. Moist or wet snow extended down to the Jan 5 crust (57" down). The top 4" was recent snow. They witnessed no new avalanches but were able to trigger roller balls in moist snow.

South

Observer Ian Nicholson traveled in the backcountry adjacent top Crystal Mountain on Wednesday. Ian reported a few small Loose Wet avalanches on steep sun exposed slopes and no signs of recent wind loading.