Bollettino valanghe

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Mon
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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In sintesi

On Sunday, a sharp rise in freezing levels could combine with a cold and layered snowpack to produce wet avalanches on sun-exposed slopes. If you notice rollerballs, pinwheels, or a wet and sticky snow surface, it’s time to head for shadier terrain. Early-season hazards such as open creeks, exposed rocks, or downed trees will continue to be a concern until more snow flies.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1

    As temperatures soar on Sunday, wet avalanches could occur on sun-exposed slopes. Look for precursors to wet avalanches such as rollerballs, pinwheels, or a wet and sticky snow surface to help you identify a shift toward higher avalanche potential. These slides often start at a point before fanning out as they move downhill. To manage this problem, you should head for shaded aspects, staying aware of slopes that could be basking in the sun above you.

    (11/26/2024)

    Rollerballs coming out of steep rocky terrain indicate that wet avalanches could follow. Even when low-snow conditions are present.

    Photo: Aaron Opp

Avalanche Discussion

As we turn the page from November to December, we find ourselves facing a spring-like warmup. If this were March, we’d be concerned that the mountains were about to fall apart and that wet avalanches would be the main culprit. However, with the short days and low sun angle we’re hedging our bets on isolated avalanche activity on slopes on the southern end of the dial. To add weight to our argument, inversion conditions plus east flow are expected at the Pass. They should side with the calendar to combat the warm temperatures and keep avalanches at bay.

That doesn’t mean that avalanches can’t happen. Head into the mountains knowing avalanches are possible and wet slides are tricky to predict. Sunday will certainly be a different kind of day than we’ve experienced lately when avalanche concerns were minimal. Remember that rapid changes in the weather are one of the influences that drive avalanche potential.

The snowpack at Snoqualmie Pass is thin at lower elevations but quickly increases to an impressive 3-4 feet at mid-elevations. Higher up, depths could be as much as 5 feet. Observations have been extremely limited so far this season due to tricky access down low. That said, what information we have gathered hints toward a well-settled and strong snowpack throughout much of the zone.

If you’re thinking of grabbing us some information from up high to help with the forecast, you'll have to make it through early-season hazards down low. Open creeks, downed logs, shallowly buried rocks, and numerous trees litter the landscape. Allow yourself extra time to deal with these potential hazards and don’t ruin your season before it really gets started.

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