Bollettino valanghe

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Tue
Alta quota
1 · Debole
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 5 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Low danger doesn’t mean no danger. Take note of how the sunshine is affecting the snow in your location on Monday and adjust your travel plans accordingly. If you notice the snow getting ripe, default to shaded slopes keeping far away from overhead hazards.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Loose Wet

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

    After a chilly night, it may take a few hours, but snow surfaces should soften in the nice April weather, enhancing the possibility for Wet Loose avalanches. These slides often start at a point, can entrain significant snow, and then fan out as they descend. On Monday, they could be confined to any recent storm snow or gauge down into older moist snow in the upper snowpack. If the snow surface has gotten sticky and wet or you are sinking into moist snow past your ankle, you should suspect Wet Loose avalanches. If you notice rollerballs and pinwheels or that there are fresh avalanches with fan-shaped debris piles, head toward shadier slopes and stay aware of your overhead hazard.

    (3/28/2021) Loose wet avalanches like these on the NE aspect of the Castle (Tattoosh Range, Mt Rainier) show the power of the sun to reach all but the due north faces in the springtime. 6300', NE, The Castle.

Avalanche Discussion

Full sunshine and elevated freezing levels should again take hold of the West South on Monday. Another nice day will further assist the snowpack in its transition from winter to spring, where freeze-thaw cycles, cornice collapses, and rocks warming up and shedding their snow are the norm. This transition has begun, but certainly has not been completed in the West South, so be sure you are taking observations throughout the day and reevaluating your trip plan. Take note of how the dynamic springtime weather is affecting the snowpack in your location. If you find that the snow is ripening up, those springtime-related avalanches may follow. 

In the neighboring Snoqualmie Pass zone, an active Glide cycle occurred over the weekend. On Sunday morning, NWAC forecasters in the Alpental Valley found over 10 new Glide avalanches as large as D3 and multiple other shedding-related avalanches. Some of the slides over the weekend reportedly started when chunks of ice fell off cornices or cliffs, while others were true Glide avalanches. Regardless of how you want to characterize them, the bottom line is that it is springtime and the snow appears ready to shed. We haven’t had any reports of these types of avalanches in the West South yet, but it's only a matter of time. Continue to give cornices a wide berth by limiting your exposure traveling under them or on top of them. Much like glides, they are unpredictable but often fail during periods of nice spring weather or rain.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.

Regioni coperte