West Slopes South

Problèmes avalancheux

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Likely

  Taille

  1–2

  There’s plenty of soft snow in the West South to blow around and form new wind slabs, especially at mid and upper elevations. During periods of intense blowing snow, you may even see a few avalanches fail naturally. As more snow falls and the wind continues to blow, some of these slabs could grow firm and thick resulting in large avalanches big enough to bury you. Give steep wind-loaded slopes a wide berth. Fresh cornices, blowing snow, and textured surfaces should help you figure out which aspects and features to avoid. Given the strong winds, you may find wind slabs in some more unusual locations well below ridgeline, along mid-slope gullies, and any exposed feature. While you will be able to find wind slabs across the zone, this avalanche problem will be most prevalent near the Cascade Crest in locations such as Crystal Mt and White Pass. 

  

• 

  Storm Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Possible

  Taille

  1–2

  Just because you’re out of the wind doesn’t mean you’re out of danger. Significant snowfall could occur over short periods of time resulting in slab avalanches. Locations near the volcanoes could see a foot or more of snow fall over just the morning time frame. During periods of heavy snowfall expect avalanche danger to spike. You may even see small natural avalanches from very steep and rocky terrain. If you find more than a foot of snow or you experience accumulations that exceed an inch of snow per hour, steer around open slopes greater than 35 degrees. 

  The West South is a big zone with lots of variability. While we do not have direct observations of weak snow developing the past several days, the very cold weather has us suspicious. Other forecast zones in the Cascades reported feathery surface hoar and sugary facets. If these developed, avalanches could fail easily and break widely. The only way to know will be to look. Small slope tests, hand pits, and up track tests may help you find a possible hidden weak layer. If you think you found weak snow be suspicious of any open slope over 30 degrees even under large open timber.