Avalanche Forecast

A break in the weather Monday will allow recently formed wind and storm slab layers time to heal.

Several days of snow and wind formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects near and above treeline. A backcountry traveler will be able to trigger a wind slab on Monday. Identify and avoid areas of wind deposited snow such as below cornices, snow drifts, and on cross-loaded terrain features.

Shallow small storm slabs will linger into Monday and are more likely to be triggered on steeper slopes, near convex rolls, or on unsupported slopes. Be aware of the consequences of even a small avalanche. Cliffs, rocks, gullies, and creeks can all magnify the consequences of a small avalanche.

Along the east side of the Cascades a stormy period from 1/16 through the present produced 12-20 inches of settled snow now sitting on the 1/16 melt-freeze crust. Observations show the bond between the new snow and the crust continuing to gain strength.

Winds observed during the stormy period formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects.

Observations above treeline have been very limited leading to a high level of uncertainty in this terrain.

Buried surface hoar was observed in the Cascade East - Central zone on Wednesday, January 17th. This layer has not been found in the north zone or in the area near Lake Wenatchee. The extent and distribution of this layer remains highly uncertain.

A widespread freezing rain event in the Cascade East-Central zone formed a supportive crust (1/5) which extends to the Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass areas. This layer was not present in the northeast from Washington Pass to Holden.

Snow depth still decreases substantially east of the Cascade crest. In many areas below treeline, there has not been enough snow to present an avalanche danger.

Observations

North

On Saturday guides from North Cascades Heli reported 10-14 inches of snow over the 1/16 crust. Observations indicate potentially touchy wind slabs above treeline.

On Thursday snow professionals in the Washington Pass area found good bonding of new snow to the old surfaces with favorable snow profiles and no avalanche activity, even traveling on steep slopes. No buried surface hoar was found in this zone.

Central

On Saturday an avalanche professional on Dirty Face Mountain near Lake Wenatchee observed a well bonded upper snowpack near and below treeline. No buried surface hoar was found and no avalanches were observed.

On Friday, NWAC observer Jeff Ward traveled near Mt Poe near Lake Wenatchee. No buried surface hoar was found over the Jan 16 crust layer in this terrain. Wind re-distribution was evident, especially in higher exposed terrain. Storm snow totals ranged from 16-20 inches in this area with no recent avalanches observed.

On Wednesday, 1/17, NWAC observers Jeremy Allyn and Jeff Ward traveled in the Icicle Creek drainage to 6800 ft. Buried surface hoar was found over a melt-freeze crust. The buried surface hoar was not limited to valley bottoms, but found to all elevations up to 6800 feet.

South

No recent observations