West Slopes Central

Daytime warming and overhead hazards may trigger isolated avalanche activity on Thursday. Expect small wet loose avalanches on all aspects during the warmest part of the day. Be alert for pockets of higher danger in alpine terrain below cornices and glide cracks. Pay attention to what’s above you and minimize time spent beneath overhead hazards as temperatures rise.

Wet avalanche activity should be limited this week after last weekend’s stretch of very warm days and nights, followed by cooler temperatures, freezing, and consolidation. You may still see small pockets of wet snow shedding from rocky terrain and cliffs during the warmest part of the day, and it’s possible to push some wet snow downhill when descending or traversing very steep slopes.

The only place you could see a larger avalanche is in alpine terrain above 5000 feet. Cornices are large and, at those elevations, haven’t yet been affected by the same prolonged warming and rain seen lower down. Glide cracks remain widespread in areas like Boston Basin, where sections of snowpack are slowly slipping over smooth rock. Glide avalanches can also release on glacial ice bed surfaces.

Stay tuned to general mountain hazards as the day warms and take a slightly more conservative route to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time. For example, spend a few extra minutes taking "the long cut" to avoid traveling directly under—or directly on top of!—sagging cornices. Don’t spend extended time ascending beneath glide cracks or cliffs still holding wet snow, especially during the warmest part of the day. Small route adjustments can significantly reduce your overall risk.

Be prepared for firm surfaces first thing in the morning, and make sure you have the proper traction tools before crossing steep, firm, or even icy slopes. An NWAC forecaster near Darrington found benign spring conditions and Low danger. You can read the observation here.