Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 27th, 2015–Jan 28th, 2015

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

.

Be aware of slightly greater avalanche danger in steeper terrain and near terrain traps relating to wet avalanches.    

Detailed Forecast

Partly to mostly cloudy conditions Wednesday, with a chance of a few light showers and somewhat cooler temperatures, should not appreciably affect the current overall low avalanche danger. 

Generally avoid steep slopes, especially near terrain traps where you might be able to push off enough wet snow to start an avalanche large enough to take you for a ride.

Remember, due to the unseasonably low snowpack especially at lower elevations, numerous terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation are widespread.  

Snowpack Discussion

The most recent significant snow from one week ago was involved in generally small avalanches Friday and Friday night during periods of heavier rain. 48 hour storm totals through Sat AM for NWAC stations west of the crest were 1.5 to 3 inches of rain from Snoqualmie Pass and north and 0.25 - 1.5 inches south of Snoqualmie. Mt. Baker received the most precipitation and Crystal the least.

NWAC forecaster Dennis D'Amico saw evidence of a few loose wet slides on Monday on this SE aspect at about 6500 feet in the Paradise Glacier Valley, possibly triggered by small cornice drops as a result of Friday's most recent rain event. Photos: D D'Amico

High freezing levels along with plentiful sunshine were seen around the Northwest Sunday with slight cooling and clouds moving in Monday. The recent weather has caused significant settlement and melt of the snowpack with the upper portion consisting of wet grains that seem well drained.  

The middle and lower snowpack consist of stable, rounded grains or melt forms and crusts from warm periods this winter.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.