You may be able to trigger avalanches where you find new snow at mid to upper elevations, especially where it has been drifted by the wind near ridge tops. Expect wet snow below treeline which could be weak and unsupportive in places. A warm and windy storm will taper off by morning, leaving quiet, cloudy weather for Friday.
Watch for triggering avalanches in freshly drifted slabs of snow on leeward sides of ridges. These avalanches will be easiest to trigger and biggest above treeline. Steer around thicker drifts and pillows of snow on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. You can avoid triggering these avalanches by sticking to lower-angled slopes, lower elevation terrain, or ridges and wind-scoured areas.
While wet avalanches are becoming less of a concern, it's still worth keeping them on your mind. You may find areas of weak, wet, and unsupportive snow at low elevations and around trees or rocks. These areas could present a travel hazard of falling into holes and could result in a host of wet avalanches. Some prominent rock slabs still hold snow and could slide with the ongoing warm temperatures. The low likelihood of a glide avalanche could hold serious consequences. The majority of any wet avalanches will be loose and small.
Rain fell at all but the upper elevations on Thursday. On many slopes, the upper snowpack has seen significant rain and wetting over the past week. Until we see a solid freeze, a remote chance for wet avalanches may stick around.
(1/20/2022)
Debris from a very large D3 avalanche, containing trees. Likely ran around January 12. Near Swiftwater picnic area. Tumwater Cyn
Photo: Josh Hirshberg
