The hazard on Douglas Island today is moderate at upper and mid elevations, and low at lower elevations. The warmest temperatures of the season are expected today, along with intense solar radiation, which will most likely lead to wet loose avalanche activity. Cornice failures have been the cause of a few larger avalanches around the region and should be treated with caution. With a wet snowpack, any avalanche activity has the potential to entrain a large amount of snow, run long distances, and create sizable debris piles. As we move further into the spring thaw, it is crucial to remain vigilant and practice good travel habits: evaluate snow and terrain carefully and identify features of concern.
If you’d like your business to sponsor a forecast, please email: [email protected]
Wet loose avalanches often start small but can grow large as they entrain snow. Wet loose avalanches are especially hazardous in steep exposed terrain and above terrain traps such as cliffs and gulleys. Signs of wet loose activity include wet saturated surface snow that feels unconsolidated, pinwheels and rollerballs on slopes, and snow shedding off rocks and trees due to solar heating.
Cornices are unpredictable and can fail without warning. Cornice failures can put a significant load on the slopes below them which can often trigger large avalanches. When traveling on ridgelines, cornices often fail much further back from their edges than expected. Cornices should be given a wide berth when traveling on corniced ridges and time spent under cornices should be minimized.
Wet slab avalanches occur when water penetrates the snowpack and causes a failure at a buried weak layer or interface. Solar radiation, which produces meltwater that percolates through the snowpack, can trigger wet slab avalanches. Wet slabs are generally more destructive and more difficult to manage than wet loose avalanches; they can break widely and without clear warning signs.
This weekend is shaping up to be the warmest of the spring so far. The entire week has been warm, with widespread signs of wet snow instability observed across multiple aspects, including wet loose avalanche activity with notable debris. Strong solar input has contributed to the formation of glide cracks and increasing areas of exposed ground along ridgelines. Cornice failures continue to be a significant concern. Cornices should be given a wide berth, as their unpredictability is high and their failure can result in significant loading on the slope below. Several cornice falls triggering larger avalanches have been reported or observed around Douglas recently. Avoid travel beneath cornices, especially during the heat of the day. Wet loose avalanches and cornice failures both have the potential to step down into older weak layers within the snowpack, producing large avalanches. A snowpit dug earlier this week indicates that the upper snowpack is trending toward isothermic conditions, with only a few degrees of temperature variation throughout. While this can improve overall snowpack structure, paired with the warm weather this has led to slushy, sticky, and "gloppy" conditions for skiing, riding, and sledding.
Keep your head on a swivel and be aware of overhead hazards today. If traveling during the heat of the day, be cautious of wet loose sluffs that can entrain significant snow and potentially step down. Northerly aspects will offer the best riding conditions.
