West Slopes South

If you head into the mountains on Sunday, you can expect to find generally safe avalanche conditions throughout the zone. This doesn’t mean that avalanche danger is non-existent, so make your own observations and take note of how the weather and snowpack are changing throughout the day. These changes could lead to an increase in the potential for avalanches.

Hope you got out to enjoy some of that 50 degree weather on the volcanoes the past few days because we are going to slowly transition out of the sunny and dry into some more active weather. If you were closer to the crest this week, you may have found locally cooler temperatures and stronger winds to go along with your sunshine. This discrepancy drove separate avalanche problems within the zone in the latter part of the week, but on Sunday we will again unite as one with a generally strong snowpack throughout the West South. Minimal precipitation Saturday night and Sunday is forecast to be rain at lower elevations, transitioning to snow as you reach the higher elevations. The snowpack should be well suited to receive the new precipitation regardless of its form, and you should find generally safe avalanche conditions. As we often like to remind you, low danger doesn’t mean no danger, and we have a few things for you to keep in mind. 

• Be mindful of the snow surface you're traveling on. If it’s firm, you may find minimal danger. If you find that it’s soft, due to either new snow or rain, the danger could be higher.
• Ah, but the snow surface may not be consistent throughout the day, right? So you need to take note of what’s actually happening outside with the weather. If the snow is piling up more than expected or the winds are actively moving snow around, realize that the possibility of avalanches is increasing and you should dial back your terrain choices. 
• If you find rain falling on unconsolidated new snow, steep slopes could possibly produce wet loose avalanches. You should head for low-angle slopes and be aware of the terrain above you in this situation.
• Similar to the rain, if clearing happens earlier than expected and the sun comes out Sunday afternoon, new snow could be destabilized by solar input and create some small wet loose avalanches. Take a look for fresh pinwheels or the snow becoming wet and sticky as an indication to head for shadier slopes.
• Regardless of how the day shakes out, any avalanche activity should occur within new snow or at the 11/30 interface, which can generally be found around 3-6” below the old snow surface. Although unlikely at this point, there could be some pockets of wind drifted snow from earlier this week sitting atop the 11/30 interface that you could trigger.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.