East Slopes South

Problèmes avalancheux

• 

  Storm Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Likely

  Taille

  1–2

  The Eastern slopes of the Cascades are in for quite the April storm, and over a foot of snow may fall overnight and throughout the day on Monday. Heavy snow is likely during the morning hours, gradually tapering in the afternoon. Newly formed storm slabs will likely be widespread and easy to trigger. Look for red-flag signs of instability such as shooting cracks, collapsing, or recent avalanches. You can use quick hand pits and small test slopes to identify storm interfaces and observe how the new snow bonds with the underlying surfaces. These underlying surfaces may vary widely from the bare ground at lower elevations to crusts or recent soft snow at higher elevations. This significant storm should bring your mindset back to winter and dry snow avalanche concerns. Natural avalanches are possible at upper elevations, so don't linger in the run out of steep terrain. Choose low-angle slopes and avoid steep terrain features while this storm runs its course. Shifting and gusty winds will likely blow this new snow around, but it will be hard to pin down one aspect where wind loading is most likely. Therefore, use visual clues to identify areas where wind slabs are forming. Look for actively blowing snow, textured surfaces, or drifts around rocks and trees.Rough surfaces and a thin snowpack limit avalanche potential at lower elevations throughout the zone. Still, the snow has been piling up for the last few days, and you may be able to trigger small avalanches in the new snow, even at lower elevations. Use caution in terrain where a small avalanche could push you into rocks, trees, or other obstacles.