West Slopes South

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist within the West South zone. That doesn't mean you won't see snow shed from rocky ledges or blocks of ice fall up on a volcano. Travel conditions such as open holes or firm crusts are more likely to ruin your day than avalanches.

Welcome to the January thaw. Unseasonably warm and sunny weather will grace our zone for the next several days, with temperatures expected to soar into the 50s in many areas. This warm-up comes on the heels of an atmospheric river event that brought rain throughout the region, but largely spared the West South compared to other NWAC zones. 

This week, clear winter nights have provided sufficient radiational cooling to form a firm surface crust, creating slick and potentially dangerous travel conditions in the morning hours. On slopes that receive direct sunshine, this surface crust has softened or even broken down in some places during the late morning to early afternoon hours. But this time of year, the sun angle is still relatively low, so not all areas have softened. This has kept wet avalanche activity largely in check, but don't rule out being able to push a wet slide on steep, sun-exposed slopes if you're not traveling on a firm surface. On Friday, easterly winds should increase, which may help keep the surface cooler (and firmer) for longer.

Although the weather may seem springlike, the snowpack largely is not. Underneath the freeze/thaw surface, a more winterlike snowpack still exists, but is not expected to produce avalanches at this time. However, in isolated locations, blobs of snow may fall from rocky ledges, or sagging cornices could fail. High on the volcanoes, the warmth could allow for blocks of ice to fall. These events are unlikely, but unusual weather has the potential to create unusual avalanches. If you see this type of activity, head for lower-angled slopes, keeping an eye on terrain baking in the sun above you.

Overall, snowpack depth has decreased over the past week due to the rain and sunshine. Compared to the 30-year average, we're currently at about 50% of normal snowpack in our zone. That has resulted in natural hazards persisting longer into this winter than usual. Holes, open creeks, rocks, or logs may add extra time to your travels. If you encounter firm surfaces, slide for life conditions may exist. Bring the right tools needed to travel safely and know how to use them.