Central Cascades

Avalanche problems

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Likely

  Size

  1–1.5

  Unusually warm temperatures and clear skies will cause the snow on sunny slopes to melt.  As the surface snow looses cohesion, small Wet Loose avalanches will be likely, particularly on steep south facing slopes.  The first sign of instability is often "rollerballs" or "pinewheels".  As the snow continues to loose cohesion, very small Wet Loose avalanches will occurr in the steepest terrain and beneath rocks or trees.  Once the melting extends deeper into the snowpack, Wet Loose avalanches could become bigger.  I expect most avalanche activity to be relatively small on Monday, but Wet Loose avalanches could be large enough to knock a rider off their feet in steep terrain.  Be mindful of terrain traps like mid-slope cliffs that could increase the consequences of a relatively small avalanche.

• 

  Cornices

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Possible

  Size

  1–2

  On these very warm days it is prudent to give cornices a little extra margin of safety.  Many cornices are about as big as they get right now, and we saw some cornice failures during the last period of stormy weather.  Now the warm days and sunny weather are melting snow and weakening these cornices.  Remember that even if you are traveling on a shady slope beneath a cornice, the back of that cornice could be getting a lot of sun and becoming weaker.