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RegisterDec 31st, 2015–Jan 1st, 2016
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Watch for isolated areas of wind slab primarily on north through southeast aspects above treeline and for small loose avalanches near terrain traps on steeper slopes throughout the terrain.
High pressure will bring more sunny weather to higher elevations while low level clouds and valley fog will linger along the east slopes New Year's Day. Cool temperatures will moderate somewhat on Friday, particularly in the alpine and in the northeast Cascades.
This weather will continue to allow older wind slab to slowly settle and stabilize. Wind slab will most likely be found on north to southeast aspects near and above tree line. Any wind slab avalanches should be confined to surface layers and cool temperatures east of the crest will slow the stabilizing of these layers. East winds were much lighter east of the crest Thursday and will likely not have built new wind slab on westerly aspects. Watch and test for inverted strong over weak storm snow.
The sunny weather and warmer temperatures at higher elevations mainly in the northeast Cascades should bring the possibility of loose avalanches Friday afternoon on steep slopes. Small loose avalanches could be skier triggered on any steep aspect, or potentially by the sun on solar aspects, either way be aware of terrain traps where even a small avalanche could have big consequences.
A cool and snowy storm cycle brought 2-4 feet of snowfall to the east slopes the week ending December 24th. Light additional accumulations over the past week have allowed the snowpack to slowly settle and good skiing and riding conditions have been reported.
An observation posted to the NWAC observations Sunday described a shallow triggered wind slab on a SSE facing slope at 4500 feet, well below treeline, on a wind loaded feature near Merritt Lake off Highway 2.
More recently, separate observations from NWAC observer Tom Curtis in the Blewett Pass backcountry and Icicle Canyon area as well as North Cascades Mountain Guides report generally a right-side up snowpack in non-wind affected terrain with widespread surface hoar and near surface faceting in sheltered areas in all elevation bands. Isolated pockets of wind slab are still thought to exist in the above treeline zone. Loose dry avalanches are still possible on steeper slopes, whether potentially triggered by skiers or on solar slopes by sunshine.
The southeast zone has a shallower snowpack versus areas further north, but after a snowy few weeks, has more than enough snow to warrant an avalanche risk. No snowpack observations have been received from this zone.