Eastside Region

Problèmes avalancheux

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Possible

  Taille

  1–2

  Winds have shifted to the north and are expected to be relatively light today. Lingering wind slabs have been gaining strength since our last loading event. Potential problem areas may include the leeward sides of ridgelines, confined alpine couloirs, and cross-loaded depressions. Expect potential avalanches to be larger in the northern half of the forecast area and as you move up in elevation. Recent avalanches, fresh cornice growth, and textured snow surfaces will point to the most dangerous slopes. Shooting cracks in stiff, textured surface snow indicates that you’ve found the problem. You can stick to lower-angled slopes and simple terrain to limit your exposure.  

  

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Likely

  Taille

  1–1.5

  Expect surface snow to warm quickly as the powerful April sun comes out and temperatures rise.  Increasing cloud cover could limit solar impacts this afternoon as a quick-moving storm system moves through the region. Easterly aspects will warm first as the sun comes out this morning, followed by southerly and westerly aspects as the sun moves across the sky. Rollerballs or pinwheels and wet surface snow are signs that often foreshadow larger point-release avalanches. Radiators such as cliffbands, rock features, and confined couloirs can trap heat and exacerbate the effects of warming. Wet Loose avalanches often fail from a single point and entrain heavy snow as they move downhill. The best way to manage Wet Loose avalanches is to ascend slopes while they remain cold and supportable and be off of steep slopes before surface snow becomes wet and unconsolidated.