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RegisterFeb 24th, 2016–Feb 25th, 2016
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Earlier formed wind slabs should continue to stabilize, but remain aware of these potentially touchy wind slabs on a variety of aspects, most likely those facing westerly. Strong late winter sunshine and mild temperatures should cause possible loose wet avalanches on steeper solar slopes in your area.
The wind slabs that may have formed Monday night through Tuesday from strong E-SE winds, primarily in the near and above treeline elevation bands, will continue to settle and stabilize, but may still be possible below treeline depending on local loading patterns.
Mild temperatures Wednesday and again Thursday should allow these layers to quickly stabilize, however watch for stiffer previously wind transported snow on a variety of aspects Thursday, especially near ridges.
Temperatures should be even warmer Thursday, so watch for pinwheeling and rollerballing as precursors to more significant loose wet activity and especially be wary of loose wet avalanches around terrain traps, such as slopes that would funnel wet snow like gulleys or depressions, also slopes above cliff bands or dense trees.
Weather and Snowpack
Dry weather with the warmest temperatures of the winter occurred February 7-10th with temperatures climbing into the 50's in most areas east of the crest. Snow in the northeast zone buried the crust with about 2-3 feet of snowfall starting February 11th through Saturday morning February 20th.
Rain and mild temperatures were seen in the central east and southeast zones last week forming a newer crust further south and outside the Washington Pass zone. An active and cooler pattern buried the crust in the central and southeast zones starting February 17th with about 6-10 inches of snow in the near and above treeline Wednesday through Saturday morning.
Up to a few inches of additional snowfall fell by Monday morning. Dry, cool conditions Tuesday and mild temperatures Wednesday have allowed for continued settlement and stabilization of any recent wind slab layers.
Recent Observations
The pro-patrol at Mission Ridge Saturday reported pockets of ski triggered 6-14 inch wind slab during avalanche control on northeast to southeast slopes above about 5800 feet. These slabs were releasing on the February 17th crust. Later today a skier triggered a 6-10 inch wind slab and was caught and carried but not injured in a northeast facing chute at about 6300 feet.
NWAC pro-observer Jeff Ward was in the Silver Star/Varden Creek area east of Washington Pass Monday and found the Feb 11th crust 80-90 cm down. No avalanche activity has been reported down to this layer in the Washington Pass area. Jeff also found sensitive yet shallow wind slabs near and above treeline Monday.
Tom Curtis was in the Icicle Creek drainage Tuesday and observed light to moderate wind transport near and above treeline. Below treeline, the most recent storm snow was unconsolidated and poorly bonded to the most recent crust.
Large avalanches that are sensitive to skier triggering were recently noted north of the border releasing down to the Feb 11th crust. Although nearby, avalanche activity either natural or skier triggered have not been observed in the Washington Pass zone down to this crust, but this information is still relevant to keep in the back of your mind if traveling around the NE Cascades.