Bulletin d’avalanche

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Wed
Alpin
3 · Marqué
Limite forestière
3 · Marqué
Sous la limite
3 · Marqué
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Points saillants

The spring-like shed cycle will continue with another hot, sunny day sustaining dangerous wet avalanche conditions. These unpredictable and dangerous avalanches could run naturally, or you could trigger one that breaks widely on deeply buried weak layers. Avoid traveling on steep terrain, and don't linger beneath large avalanche paths or drainages that channel avalanche debris.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely
    Taille
    2–3

    Wet loose and wet slab avalanches are still likely, with low temperatures only getting down to the mid-40F's at night and heating up to nearly 60F degrees during the day. Wet avalanches may run naturally, or you could trigger a widely propagating wet slab on deeply buried weak layers from Early February. These avalanches are notoriously tricky to predict, and the only way to manage this problem is through terrain avoidance. 

    Stay out of harm's way by avoiding travel on and under all large slopes greater than 30 degrees, especially during the heat of the day. Lower elevations may see avalanches run from above, so know what terrain is above you and avoid lingering under large slopes or near steep drainages that can channel flowing debris from above. The heat and sunshine will also weaken cornices. Give these overhanging chunks some space. They are a hazard on their own but could also trigger wet loose or slab avalanches.

    (1/29/2024)

    An example of a very large wet slab avalanche (d3) from late January.Mission Ridge Ski Area WS-ASu-D3-R4-O/G

Avalanche Discussion

Another repeat day of hot, sunny weather will continue through Tuesday, driving this persistent avalanche forecast. We're still in the midst of this season's first big, warming event. Even though it is only March, this is a spring shed style event, and unusual avalanches are likely. With extended warm periods and a weak snowpack, it is very challenging to pinpoint when avalanche activity will peak. But we know avalanche conditions are dangerous, and we expect wet avalanches to occur naturally and be easy to trigger. These long periods of uncertainty and unstable snow take conservative terrain management and diligent patience. 

A close call on Saturday, where snowmobilers triggered a very large avalanche in Ahtanum (East South) that failed on deeply buried weak layers, is an indication of the potential for these types of avalanches as we continue to warm the snowpack. Other notable wet slab avalanches and wet loose avalanches occurred throughout the weekend in the Teanaway. Avalanche debris came close to covering the North Fork Teanaway road at the valley bottom and, in one location, was estimated to be 15-20ft deep below a confined gully feature.

Your avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations are extremely valuable to the avalanche community. Help create a more accurate avalanche forecast by submitting your observations here. 

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