Avalanche Forecast

High precipitation rates, significant storm totals, moderate to intense wind transportation of snow, and a slight warming trend late Saturday night through Sunday morning will combine forces to create very dangerous avalanche conditions. Natural avalanches are expected at all elevations. Some of these avalanches may entrain significant amounts of recent snow and travel far into their runout zones.

Identify and avoid all avalanche terrain. Be aware of terrain above you where avalanches originating at higher elevations may travel to your current location.

Deep snow exists throughout the Mt Baker area. Snow immersion and tree-well hazards continue to increase. Maintain constant communication with your travel partners.

Very dangerous avalanche conditions have developed and continue to increase due to significant precipitation and wind in the Mt Baker area. Avoid areas where avalanches can start, run, and stop. Pay attention to terrain above you as large and very large avalanches are expected and may entrain significant amounts of snow.

A stormy and windy period over the last several days has deposited nearly 5 inches of water in the Mt Baker area as of Saturday afternoon. In most locations this means several feet of new snow sits atop the most recent crust layer. A general cooling trend has allowed most of the snow to form a favorable hardness profile.

Winds throughout the storm cycle have formed sensitive wind slabs on lee slopes. Observations indicate wind slabs up to 3 feet thick in some areas.

Difficult travel conditions and very limited visibility has minimized observations from above treeline terrain. Expect deeper storm snow and significant wind redistribution.

Below the most recent crust there are no layers of concern.

Observations

North

Saturday Mt Baker ski patrol reported generally soft surface snow conditions with limited slab development in sheltered areas. While winds were decreasing, wind transportation from Friday night was observed near treeline.

On Friday, NWAC professionals traveled to near treeline in the Baker backcountry. They avoided exposed terrain above treeline due to potential for large and dangerous wind slabs. Active wind transport and new snow occurring throughout the day redistributed the deep storm snow. There was evidence of a large wind slab avalanche near treeline on a N-facing slope.