East Slopes South

Another sunny day with mild temperatures is in store for Thursday. Challenging travel on firm and icy surfaces may be a greater hazard than avalanches. As the sun warms southern slopes, you may be able to trigger small wet avalanches in isolated areas of steep, rocky terrain by the afternoon.

Thursday will be another spring day in January with sunny skies and the diurnal melt-freeze cycle. The surfaces will warm and soften with temperature and sun during the day before refreezing at night. Expect icy and variable snow in the morning. Make sure you have the equipment and skills you need to navigate these potentially dangerous travel conditions. While avalanches are unlikely, you may be able to trigger wet loose avalanches in isolated areas of very steep terrain on southern aspects. Take note of how thick and supportable the crust is throughout the day. If you're sinking past your ankle or the sled bogs down in deep wet snow, you may be able to trigger a wet loose avalanche. While any slides should remain small and isolated, don't let one catch you by surprise and push you into a terrain trap. Even a small avalanche can hurt you if it carries you over a cliff or buries you deeply in a gully.

NWAC forecasters visited the Little Naches SnoPark on Monday and found a stable snowpack with no new avalanches (observation). The top 2 inches of surface snow thawed on sunny slopes by mid-day. You can find pleasant riding conditions with spring-like corn with good timing. Unfortunately, the recent warm temperatures and sun also caused significant loss in snow cover. Many low elevation slopes have melted out, while SNOTELs throughout the zone report total snow heights of 2-5ft between 4500-6000ft.

We may be in for a much-needed refresh and return to winter over the weekend. Now is an excellent time to track the surface conditions and note any weak snow or surface hoar on the crust that could become a weak layer buried under the new snow.