Bollettino valanghe

West Slopes South

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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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 3 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Windy weather could drift the recent snow into slightly deeper and firmer pockets that may avalanche. Blowing snow should help you figure out local wind patterns and anticipate loaded slopes.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    Increasing southeasterly winds should have no problem turning the recent soft snow into a fresh crop of wind slabs. Given the direction and gusty nature, you could find newly loaded pockets on strange aspects and unusual features. 

    Fortunately, since these slabs will be building in front of you, they should be easy to spot and avoid. Blowing snow, sharp drifts, scoured slopes, and textured surfaces can help determine where these new slabs form. 

    Expect wind slabs to grow throughout the day and become more common in the afternoon. Even if they’re small, with so many things to hit, a tiny avalanche could carry you on a nasty ride.

    (12/29/2023)

    Blowing snow  shows local wind patterns and which aspects are being actively loaded with snow. 

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

The harder and longer the wind blows, the bigger and more widespread the wind slab issue will grow. As a result expect the avalanche danger to slowly grow throughout the day. 

While not a very big storm, this system does seem to target the West South zone. Most areas could see a few inches of new snow by the end of Tuesday. That won’t be enough to really add much to the danger, but it will provide more snow to blow around in the strong winds. 

This new snow will fall on a variety of surfaces including surface hoar, near surface facets, and firmer crust. These weaker grains, shouldn’t play much of a role but could make some wind slabs very easy to trigger. 

On Saturday, a storm brought a few inches of snow to the zone. Mid-elevation weather stations recorded 2-4in, with 6in or more likely above 7000ft. This snow covered a new crust (12/30) which was often supportable higher in the terrain and breakable lower. The layer in the upper snowpack that has our attention is the potential facets above and below the 12/25 crust/ice lens. This is often shallow but has been seen as deep as 12in. 

The biggest issue continues to be the general lack of snow and abundance of things to hit, especially at lower elevations. This storm won’t change that, and the few inches of fresh could only hide a few more sharks.

Regioni coperte