Bulletin d’avalanche

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Mon
Alpin
4 · Fort
Limite forestière
4 · Fort
Sous la limite
3 · Marqué
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 3 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Sunday will be a great day to avoid travel in avalanche terrain. Rain on dry snow will very likely trigger large natural avalanches at middle and upper elevations. If you do venture out to the mountains, prepare for a wet day and challenging conditions. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Very Likely
    Taille
    1–2

    If you're out early enough in the morning, you may still need to navigate around dry snow problems such as sensitive wind slabs or storm slabs. But inevitably, snow will transition over to rain by mid-morning. This rain on dry snow will set the stage for wet slab avalanches. 

    These types of avalanches are not the kind you tip-toe around. Any slope above 35 degrees (at all elevations)should be considered suspect. As you climb in elevation, these slabs will only grow in size and be more destructive if triggered. Your best bet will be to simply avoid traveling on or under steep slopes, especially at mid and upper elevations. 

     

    (12/21/2020)

    Wet slabs can be destructive.  Your best bet will be to avoid terrain that can produce these types of avalanches. 

Avalanche Discussion

Don't overthink it; Sunday is shaping up to be a very dangerous day across the east-south. A strong atmospheric river will bring rain to ridge-top elevations by the afternoon hours.

So far the East South snotels have picked up 8-12 inces of new snow in the last 24 hours . You'll likely find greater amounts and more dangerous conditions on the western edges of the zone.

On Friday, NWAC forecaster Katie Warren observed 3 inches of new snow falling on bare ground in the Ahtanum Meadows area and closer to 6 inches near Rimrock Lake. You can check out her full observation here. Other observers near Ahtanum Meadows reported better riding conditions and a more layered snowpack above 5000 ft. 

Leading up to this storm, a weak, thin snowpack existed on shady aspects at mid and upper elevations. Bareground existed almost everywhere else. As new snow piles up, be ready to dig down to see how the new snow is bonding with the old snow surface. 

Low tide conditions still exist across much of the zone. Look for shallowly buried hazards such as rock, creeks, and trees. Don't let an early season injury end your season or your sleds season. 

We have limited observations from the East South. So if you get out, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation!

 

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