Bollettino valanghe

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Mon
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 2 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

For most of the day, you’ll likely find generally safe avalanche conditions, but as precipitation returns, the hazard could increase slightly. Look for small wind drifted pockets that you may want to avoid. Your biggest concern continues to be very challenging travel conditions, particularly at lower elevations.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

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

    If you head to the top of the higher peaks in the morning, you may find a few very small pockets of wind-loaded snow. Look for these small slabs to become slightly larger and more common as precipitation returns in the afternoon. Blowing snow, sharp drifts, and textured surfaces point toward wind-loaded terrain. You’ll often find slabs along the base of cliffs, in the tops of chutes, or near sharp exposed ridges. 

    These potential avalanches shouldn’t be very big. Instead, think about the consequences of the slopes below. Be leery of blowing snow actively loading a slope if it’s above a cliff or steep rocky terrain.

    Winds should scour exposed slopes down to the firm crust below. While these slopes may be safe from triggering and avalanche, they could be very firm and icy. 

    (3/4/2023) Example: Blowing snow, drifts, and textured surfaces indicated wind slabs would be near by. Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

It looks like a quiet morning at the Pass before precipitation and increasing wind return in the afternoon. We don’t expect much in the way of avalanche hazards to start the day. The biggest thing on your mind out of the gate should be the chance for a random blob of snow to shed from a steep rocky face after all the warm wet weather. Don’t linger under rocky terrain or steep slopes with crevasse-like glide cracks. 

Once precipitation returns, you may be able to push a tiny wet loose slide near and just above the rain-snow-line. Wet heavy snow should bond well to the underlying crust, but could slide in very steep terrain. Fortunately, these slides should be very small and not much of hazard. Down lower, the snowpack should be well situated to handle whatever rain this storm can throw its way. 

Instead of avalanches, travel challenges could be your biggest danger of the day. On Saturday avalanche professionals at the Pass called conditions, “savage,” “hardcore,” and “breakable trenches.” They didn’t paint a rosy picture. Expect breakable crusts, icy slopes, frozen tree bombs, downed woody debris, open creeks, and thin coverage to make travel more sporty at lower elevations. While a few inches of softer snow could help, it likely won’t change this equation.

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