Avalanche Forecast

Freezing levels on Wednesday should continue the gradual rising trend that began on Tuesday. Increasing high and mid clouds should be seen in the afternoon. Recent storm snow should continue to settle, but filtered sunshine and increasing temperatures in the afternoon may activate loose wet avalanches predominately on steeper southerly slopes. Especially watch near and above treeline, where more snow is available for entrainment and could funnel you into a terrain trap.  

Despite warming temperatures, there likely isn't enough new snow on southerly aspects below treeline for significant wet loose danger in the Snoqualmie area and southwest Cascades. Also, temperature inversions and easterly flow in the Cascade Passes will locally keep temperatures cooler. 

Also, there may be pockets of sensitive wind slab mainly on N-SE aspects near and above treeline.

As a general backcountry travel safety note, tread carefully at lower elevations and on wind scoured aspects where terrain hazards (exposed rocks, trees, streams, etc.) are present. 

Strong southwest flow carried a wet front across the Cascades Saturday night. This front tapped subtropical moisture which pushed snow levels high and resulted in 2-3 inches of rain for most NWAC sites west of the crest Saturday night. The exception was in the passes where Snoqualmie saw significant freezing rain and near Stevens Pass whom stayed mostly snow through early Sun AM.  Stevens saw the most skier and natural activity Sat night and Sun AM. Another half inch to 2 inches of water for the west slopes fell through Monday morning with snow levels hovering around 3000-3500 ft.   

The new snow on the backside of this storm Sun-Mon generally bonded well to the wet grains/rain crust along the west slopes or in the Snoqualmie area, a freezing rain crust. No significant avalanche activity was reported by professionals Monday or Tuesday outside of Stevens Pass. 

Both Mon and Tue AM, pro-patrol at Stevens triggered 15-20" soft wind slabs on N-NE aspects of Cowboy Ridge, releasing down to the wet grains from early Sun morning mainly using explosives. A gaggle of NWAC pro-observers in Moonlight Bowl/Skyline area Tuesday of Stevens found wind transport on N-NE aspects near treeline but no wind slab. Storm layers reported by observers and on our observation page that failed in column tests were not likely to propagate. 

Check out Monday's new videos from Dallas and Jeff H. on our YouTube Channel. 

Below the most recent storm snow, the middle and lower snowpack should consist predominately of melt-freeze grains and crusts from warm stretches this winter.