Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avoid steep slopes holding slabs of recently wind drifted snow. Steer towards lower-angle slopes in wind exposed areas. Blowing and drifting snow will show where you will most likely trigger an avalanche. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The mountains picked up 3-6” of snow by Monday afternoon. With another storm on the way, anticipate an additional 3-6” by Tuesday morning. But an increase in wind speeds going into the afternoon is just as important as the amount of new snow. Expect strong winds to drift freshly fallen snow and build unstable slabs.

    Monitor new and wind-drifted snow depth as you gain elevation and change aspects. Clues like scoured snow surfaces, cornices and drifts will show you the wind loading pattern in the terrain around you. Use small test slopes or hand pits to gauge stability. Long shooting cracks are a sign you have found unstable snow and should avoid steep slopes with similar characteristics like aspect and exposure to wind.

    You might also trigger small slab avalanches on wind-sheltered slopes. Pay attention to hard-over-soft laying and use small test slopes to gauge how reactive this new snow is before stepping into steeper terrain. 

    (12/3/2022)

    Actively blowing snow, freshly building sharp cornices, and textured surfaces. All easy-to-identify signs of wind-loading. Look for slabs to develop on the slopes on the left side of the picture.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

An NWAC Forecaster traveled to Darland Mountain on Monday and found sunny skies above the valley fog. There was about 12” new snow over the rain crust from last week. The crust was soft and unsupportable below the new snow on shaded aspects, and much firmer on southerly aspects that were seeing more cooling with moderate winds. South winds were also drifting snow onto north and east aspects and forming shallow slabs. No wet snow instabilities were observed. 

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