Avalanche Forecast

Cloudy skies, cooler temperatures and light showers forecast on Thursday should not change the otherwise low avalanche danger along the west slopes of the Cascades.

As a result of the overall low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation.

Warm and wet southwest flow directed a series of fronts across the Northwest from about February 5th-10th, producing impressive rainfall totals but unfortunately causing more melt at lower elevations, making many slopes below treeline nearly snow free regardless of aspect. Generally 6-12 inches of wet snow fell at the tail end of the storm cycle last week near and above treeline. Since then, a benign weather pattern with mild temperatures has set in.

Sunday through Tuesday featured sunny skies and generally mild temperatures that allowed for solid re-freezes overnight followed by some softening of the surface snow on solar aspects during the day. Only small wet loose avalanches were reported on steeper solar slopes during this period.  No new avalanches were reported Wednesday. 

The mid and lower snowpack west of the crest should consist of layers of stable consolidated rounded grains or melt forms and crusts from multiple warm periods this winter.