Bollettino valanghe

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

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

Friday will be a bit of a transition day back to winter as temperatures cool and precipitation returns. While you may find generally safe avalanche conditions for much of the day, as snow starts to accumulate, that could change. Keep an eye out for small pockets of wind drifted snow that you may want to avoid.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

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

    If you’re going to find an avalanche issue Friday, it will likely be a small pocket of wind-loaded snow later in the day. While we aren’t expecting more than 2-4” of new snow, we are anticipating windy conditions. In some spots, these moderate to strong winds could form fresh slabs 6-8” deep. This will be most likely closer to the tops of the bigger peaks around the Pass. If your plans for the day involve traveling up higher in the terrain, be on the lookout for these newly forming wind slabs. Blowing snow, textured surfaces, and smooth pillow-like drifts should help you anticipate where these wind-loaded areas may exist. Even though these slides should be small and isolated, don’t let them knock you off your feet on a high consequence slope.

    (2/1/2022)

    Example: Blowing snow and sharp drifts like this can help you find and avoid newly forming wind slabs. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

The past week feels like quite the rollercoaster as we swing back and forth from spring to winter over and over. This has resulted in a flip-flop between wet and dry avalanche issues, and quick rise and fall of the avalanche danger. Friday will fit right along with this pattern. First, thing Friday morning, we can’t rule out a lingering wet avalanche concern. We don’t expect a strong freeze Thursday night. A weak surface crust should help significantly limit the potential for loose wet avalanches, but you may still see a block of snow shed from steep rocky terrain. You’re most likely to find the surface crust creates punchy conditions with heavy wet snow underneath. This could make for challenging travel. 

During the day, cooling temperatures and mostly cloudy skies should help the surface start to gain strength and bring any wet avalanche problems to a close. For most areas, precipitation should start as very light rain and turn to snow. This will help the new snow bond well to the old surface. This first storm should not bring enough snow to create any danger outside of the few small wind-loaded pockets. There is a chance for some sunbreaks mid-day. Given the time of year, you can’t ignore even short-lived periods of sunshine. If you notice the sun breaking down the weak surface crust, start thinking about loose wet avalanches. This scenario seems unlikely, but you could see a few new rollerballs. 

On Thursday, an NWAC forecaster at Snoqualmie Pass reported several smaller loose wet avalanches on Kendall Peak, Kendall Knob, Lundine Peak, and Chair Peak. Larger and more notable avalanches were observed on the south side of Denny Mt and the Upper Chair Peak basin. All of these slides were part of the natural avalanche cycle 4/6-7. 

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