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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 9th, 2019–Feb 10th, 2019

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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Pay attention to places where the wind piled up the recent snow. It’s these wind loaded slopes where you are most likely to trigger an avalanche Sunday. When you see snow drifts or feel slightly firmer surface snow, avoid nearby slopes greater than 35 degrees.

Discussion

Snow and Avalanche Discussion

We heard reports of shallow but reactive wind slabs in areas around the Mt Baker backcountry Saturday. In one instance, a backcountry traveler triggered a small wind slab while traveling on the ridgeline. Observations from higher elevations were limited, but we’d expect similar conditions up high, but with deeper slabs.

The Mt Baker area received around 6 inches of very light fluffy snow Saturday. This snow may be very unconsolidated and poorly bonded to the underlying snow surface.

Snowpack Discussion

New Regional Synopsis Coming Soon

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.