Bulletin d’avalanche

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sun
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 5 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Warm temperatures and clearing skies will make it possible to trigger wet avalanches on steep terrain. You will be more likely to trigger wet avalanches on slopes in direct sun. If you find the snow surface to be wet and heavy, it might be a good idea to stick to lower angle terrain or move to shadier slopes. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Loose Wet

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

    Freezing levels begin an uphill march overnight on Friday and are forecasted to reach 8500ft by Saturday evening. While many weather stations have been reporting above freezing temperatures for the last two days, sunny skies and temperatures in the mid to upper 30's might be the tipping point for wet avalanches on all aspects on Saturday. Thick crusts under the storm snow from 1/30 - 2/1 can act as a good bed surface for wet avalanches to run on. Dry snow is particularly susceptible to warming, and danger may increase quickly, especially on slopes in direct sun. Many southern aspects at low elevations have melted back significantly, limiting the potential for avalanches. If you see pinwheels or rollerballs and the snow feels wet and heavy, it might be a good time to head toward lower angle slopes. You can also observe how wet snow reacts when you push on small test slopes. If the wet snow gathers momentum and entrains additional snow, wet loose avalanches are possible. Be cautious of traveling above rocks, cliffs, creeks, or other obstacles that can increase the consequences of getting caught.

    (1/25/2022)

    Wet loose avalanches in steep terrain like these may become possible with warming temperatures on Saturday. 

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

The past two days have produced higher than forecast freezing temperatures, with weather stations at 5900ft reporting temperatures in the high 30's. However, elevations over 6000ft may still hold dry snow, which is more susceptible to additional warming and direct sun. 

You still may be able to trigger isolated wind slabs at the highest elevations. Wind slabs at these high elevations may have been built over weak snow in isolated areas above or below the old crust and could produce surprising avalanches. The old snow surface will be easy to find, so gather information as you travel. Build in a wide margin for error and move to lower angle terrain if you experience shooting cracks, collapses, or see recent avalanches break widely across terrain features. 

Before the storm this week, conditions in January were unseasonably warm, and the snowpack endured a beating. There was a significant loss in overall snow height, and many ridgelines, south aspects, and low elevation slopes melted out to bare ground. Several creeks reopened during the warm weather, and many snow bridges fractured or collapsed. Shallowly buried obstacles are additional hazards to deal with hidden beneath the new snow. 

Régions couvertes