Bollettino valanghe

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

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

Confirmed glide activity on Tuesday combined with another mild day creates the potential for the problem to continue on Wednesday. Don't linger under steep slopes or cliffs where you see bulging or wrinkled-looking snow, glide cracks, or unstable-looking slabs or blocks of snow. Snow surfaces remain a mixed bag of crusts, wind-affected snow, and soft snow on the most sheltered, shaded slopes.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Unlikely
    Dimensione
    1.5–2.5

    Glide avalanches are one of the hardest avalanche problems to forecast.  They release naturally during or just after longer warm periods and rain events. They also tend to be large, since they involve the entire season's snowpack. Many steep, rocky or grassy slopes around the West North zone have a history of glide avalanches. We've had multiple periods of glide activity, so there is a good chance that if you look carefully, you can find evidence of glide cracks, older glide avalanches, or even an insolated recent one.

    The problem was verified on Tuesday with a size 1.5 glide avalanche large enough to ruin your day inbounds at Mt Baker and also reported activity on steep rocky faces near Huntoon Point. Conditions won't change appreciably on Wednesday, so expect the potential for additional isolated and potentially large glide avalanches. It's nearly impossible to forecast when glide avalanches will release, so limiting your exposure to the problem is the primary way to reduce risk. Avoid or travel quickly beneath steep rock slabs or smooth grassy/shrub slopes if they maintain a snowpack, and especially if you identify glide cracks on the slope. 

    Historically, this problem tends to occur more on sunny slopes than on shaded slopes during dry regimes. However, recent activity on N aspects suggests that warming is reaching these aspects and to treat any steep, wrinkled slope or crack with suspicion. 

    (1/28/2025)

    D1.5 glide avalanche on steep, cliffy terrain within the Mt Baker Ski area.

    Photo: Mt Baker Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

We're expecting another mild day on Wednesday, but expect increased winds and cooling during the afternoon. Prepare for a significant weather pattern shift and associated avalanche conditions Friday into the weekend.

Additional things to consider during the latter stages of the January drought:

  • Although cornices are frequently cut back, they may be drooping precariously. If cornices or other snow patches are perched on the slopes above you, or glide cracks are visible, beware of traveling beneath these features. 
  • Loose wet avalanches should also be on your list of hazards. Avoid travel on or below sunny slopes where you can sink in past your ankle in wet snow. Although we're likely past the peak of the warming, temperatures likely won't dip below freezing overnight. Despite the warm temperatures, clear skies, low humidity and long wave radiation losses will likely freeze snow surfaces at all elevations overnight.
  • Many people went to the far reaches of the West North zone over the weekend, and no wind slabs big enough to be dangerous were reported. It's not without question that you may find one that could get you into trouble if you climb into exposed alpine terrain. Search for pockets of smooth-looking wind slabs and assess for instability before traveling onto steep slopes. The potential for traumatic injury increases above rocks, cliffs, or crevasses in the runout below. 
  • Snow surfaces vary widely between slick crust, wind-affected snow, heavily tracked-out slopes, and even some soft snow in shaded and sheltered terrain. Southerly slopes should warm enough to produce soft snow and improved riding conditions. Timing is critical this time of year as you can expect firm crusts on these aspects in the morning and late in the day.
  • Shaded slopes continue to preserve weak, faceted snow and surface hoar. Plenty of facets can be found below the surface on all aspects, often sandwiched between and around crust layers. 

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