Central Cascades

Problèmes avalancheux

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Likely

  Taille

  1–2

  The remainder of the week will be much warmer and sunnier.  This translates to more melting snow and an increased likelihood of Wet Loose avalanches each afternoon.  Wet Loose avalanches occurr when heat melts the snow.  As the ratio of liquid water to ice increases, the snow can no longer maintain it's place on the slope.  These are tear dropped shaped avalanches, and occurr first in the steepest terrain and often beneath rocks and cliffs.

  Overnight temperatures will dip below freezing so avalanche danger first thing in the morning will be Low and then increase during the day.  Wet Loose avalanches will be most likely and the largest on steep South slopes.

• 

  Cornices

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Possible

  Taille

  1–2.5

  Warm temperatures and sun will melt snow and weaken cornices.  Cornices collapses can be unpredictable and I'll be steering clear of cornices for the forseeable future.  Remember that even if you are touring on a cool shady slope, the sun may be cooking the back side of the cornice above you.

  Lately Cornice Collapses have been triggering Wet Loose avalanches beneath.

• 

  Wet Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Unlikely

  Taille

  1–2

  Wet Slabs are unlikely after some rain on the weekend and then two nights of solid refreeze.  Nonetheless, this will be our first day of very warm temperatures and sunny skies, so I am adding them to the problem list until we've gotten a bit further into the swing of Spring melt/freeze.  Wet Slab avalanches are most likely in conjunction with a large cornice collapse.