Bollettino valanghe

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

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

Wet snow avalanche problems remain our main concern for another day before temperatures plummet. Large spring shedding type of avalanches are what you are most likely to see, such as glide avalanches and cornice failures, so travel quickly beneath these features on Tuesday. If you're sinking several inches into wet snow it's still a good time to avoid travel on steep slopes. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    In terrain with steep rock slabs and low vegetation on slopes, our concerns shift to spring shed problems like glide avalanches.  Many new glide cracks were reported in the Baker backcountry on Monday. We expect some of these to release in the next 24-48 hours, so this is a good time to avoid traveling underneath these features. If you must, move through these areas with haste. You'll have no warning if a glide avalanche decides it's time to go. The resulting avalanche will probably be large and unsurvivable. 

    Large saggy cornices are other features to avoid traveling beneath on Tuesday as well. Most wet loose avalanche activity is behind us, although a wet loose slide isn't out of the question. If you encounter sloppy wet snow that you're sinking several inches into is where you can probably trigger a wet loose avalanche so just stay off steep slopes in areas like this. 

    (4/1/2024)

    Table mountain from the Artist point approach. Note big scary glide cracks on the right side of the photo. All snow was moist to wet, even on north-facing aspects on Monday. 

Avalanche Discussion

Preliminary Report: NWAC is saddened to report an avalanche fatality as a result of a cornice fall on fatality as a result of a cornice fall on Mount St. Helens. On Friday, March 29, 2024, a snowboarder summited the peak. While standing near the top, he triggered a cornice and fell into the crater triggering a large slab avalanche on the slope below. NWAC is working with the Skamania Co Sheriff's officeand SAR to compile a report. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community.  

Discussion:

Observers found varying degrees of moist snow on all aspects and elevations up to 5500ft on Monday. Some new wet loose avalanches were triggered with ski turns, although most avalanche activity happened in previous days closer to the start of the warming on Friday. 

Although unlikely, if you find any steep, north-facing dry pockets of snow at upper elevations there's a very slim chance you could trigger a small wind slab avalanche in that area. Even if avalanches are small, consider the additional hazard if one knocked you off your feet in high-consequence terrain, sending you off a cliff or into trees, rocks, or a gully. 

Temperatures will plummet Tuesday night and it'll be downright chilly on Wednesday. Forecasts are showing more than 6 inches of snow coming in Tuesday night, to hopefully soften that firm crust we expect will be forming on snow surfaces as temperatures drop. 

Your avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations are extremely valuable to the avalanche community. Help create a more accurate avalanche forecast by submitting your observations HERE. 

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