Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

This is the last day before temperatures plummet, so keep wet snow avalanche problems on your mind. Steep slopes that softened several inches are areas where you could trigger a wet snow avalanche, so avoid travel in steep terrain with soft, punchy snow. Infrequent but large spring shed type avalanches may occur, especially beneath large saggy cornices or gaping glide cracks. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Observers in neighboring zones reported wet snow and a minimal freeze Sunday night into Monday, and we can expect similar conditions on Tuesday. Wet avalanche activity has likely slowed as it's been warm for several days, but it's tough to figure out exactly when and where avalanches will happen during one of these prolonged warming cycles. 

    If you see any natural avalanche activity, avoid similar steep slopes and the terrain beneath them. More likely, in areas where you encounter sloppy wet snow that you're sinking several inches into is where you can probably trigger a wet avalanche so just stay off steep slopes in spots like this. 

    Other wet snow problems related to a spring warmup have an unlikely chance of occuring on Tuesday, but it's something to keep on your radar. This is a time to avoid travel beneath or moving very quickly around saggy cornices and gaping glide cracks, or other patches of wet snow on steep rock faces. Avalanches in any of these circumsances may entrain a lot of snow and grow large. 

Avalanche Discussion

Preliminary Report: NWAC is saddened to report an avalanche fatality as a result of a cornice fall on fatality as a result of a cornice fall on Mount St. Helens. On Friday, March 29, 2024, a snowboarder summited the peak. While standing near the top, he triggered a cornice and fell into the crater triggering a large slab avalanche on the slope below. NWAC is working with the Skamania Co Sheriff's officeand SAR to compile a report. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community.  

Discussion:

Although unlikely, if you find any steep, north-facing dry pockets of snow at upper elevations there's a very slim chance you could trigger a small wind slab avalanche in that area. Even if avalanches are small, consider the additional hazard if one knocked you off your feet in high-consequence terrain, sending you off a cliff or into trees, rocks, or a gully. 

Over the weekend a backcountry group on Whitehorse triggered a small slab avalanche which caught and buried a person in the group in a crevasse. Their arm was exposed and the individual was able to be quickly dug out. This is a great example of how even small avalanches can still have high consequence when you're in complex terrain. We thank the party for sharing this information with us. 

Temperatures will plummet Tuesday night and it'll be downright chilly on Wednesday. We'll get about 6 inches of snow Tuesday night to dampen what we expect to be a very firm crust that will form on the surface as temperatures drop. 

Your avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations are extremely valuable to the avalanche community. Help create a more accurate avalanche forecast by submitting your observations HERE. 

 

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