Bollettino valanghe

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sat
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto last year. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Temperatures will increase and cloud cover will decrease on Friday. Look for signs of wet snow instability anywhere there is consistent snow cover. Stay off of steep slopes where you identify wet and mushy snow, rollerballing, or fresh avalanches.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Both temperatures and the amount of sun will be a notch higher as we get to the end of the workweek. They are both key indicators that wet avalanches are more likely to occur or could be easier to trigger. The higher sun angles of April mean nearly all aspects can warm up with sun exposure. Most slopes should sport crust in the morning. It will eventually break down and allow the upper layers to keep warming, melting, and become a bit more unstable.

    Warmer conditions will also increase the chance of seeing cornice fall, glide avalanches, or other wet-snow-shedding-from-steep-terrain events. These are unlikely and should be limited in distribution, but you don’t want to be in the way. It’s worth noting that these types of avalanches frequently trigger a larger one on the slope below.  Minimize time spent below scary-looking cornices, glide cracks, or other unstable snow features in the terrain above you. Take extra care if heading into bigger alpine terrain as the day warms.

    (3/22/2023)

    The bigger the terrain, the bigger the wet avalanches. Loose snow avalanches can also pull out slabs, as seen in this photo.

Avalanche Discussion

You might find cooler temperatures and patches of dry wind-drifted snow if you head up to the highest elevations. Don’t let fair weather lull you into complacency about wind slab avalanches, especially with consequential terrain in the runout below. Gauge the bond of slab layers before diving into big terrain where the snow is still dry and winter-like. Low elevations generally have minimal snow cover below.

NWAC Forecasters at Snoqualmie Pass found moist or wet new snow on all aspects and no signs wind transport at upper elevations. They didn't find fresh wet avalanches or other signs of instability but concluded that cliffs shedding snow and glide avalanches would be a concern through the weekend. Observers in Stevens Pass reported that low elevations are quickly losing snow cover, sun-exposed slopes were wet and sloppy by the afternoon, and true northerly aspects still held reasonable good riding conditions in dry snow. There are plenty of old avalanches out there, but no new ones were reported as of late Thursday afternoon.

Regioni coperte