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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 4th, 2018–Feb 5th, 2018

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Stevens Pass.

Heightened avalanche conditions exist on slopes steeper than 35. Large and destructive Glide avalanches and cornice falls are possible where rain has saturated old snow. Avoid terrain with open cracks in the snow and overhung cornices near ridge lines.

Detailed Forecast

While avalanches will be difficult to trigger today, they could have serious consequences. Glide Avalanches and cornice falls could be big enough to bury or kill you.  Both of these types of avalanches form in specific types of terrain. The best way to stay safe is to avoid areas where these avalanches form and release. Watch out for slopes with visible glide cracks or where known rock slabs lie under the snowpack. Give yourself an extra wide margin of safety near ridges that could hold cornices, and avoid slopes with cornices overhead.

Many Loose Wet avalanches ran in the past couple days. This avalanche cycle is tapering off but is still possible today. While these avalanches may be the smallest and most predictable of today’s avalanche flavors, they could still be big enough to injure you. Avoid traveling through or above terrain that could increase the consequences of being caught in an avalanches such as or cliffs, gullies, or rocky slopes.

Snowpack Discussion

Wet weather over the weekend created moist to wet surface snow conditions up to 6500 feet. A natural Loose Wet avalanche cycle occurred Friday and Saturday. Observers reported both natural cornice falls and glide avalanches. We’ve received minimal reports of Wet Slab avalanches. Poor visibility and stormy conditions have limited observations at higher elevations. Across the region rain totals averaged 1” during daylight hours on Sunday with 1.06” at Steven’s Pass, .95” at Snoqualmie Pass, and .88” at Paradise on Mt Rainier.

Observations

Stevens Pass

NWAC Avalanche Forecasters and observers noted numerous natural wet loose avalanches on all aspects Friday and Saturday. These avalanches ranged from small to large, with some travelling 1000 vertical feet.

Snoqualmie Pass

On Sunday NWAC observer, Matt Schonwald, found a saturated snowpack with rain water more than 2 feet below the snow surface. Alpental Ski Patrol reported audible cornices collapses along ridges in the Alpental Valley on Saturday. Both patrol and NWAC observers reported Glide avalanches, visible glide cracks, and many wet loose avalanches

South

Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol reported skier triggered wet loose avalanches in terrain with an uncompacted, backcountry-like snow on Saturday.

Problems

Glide Cracks

Glide avalanches occur when water lubricates the interface between the snowpack and the ground. These avalanches are difficult to predict and best managed by avoiding terrain below glide cracks.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.