Turnagain Pass

With another spring storm moving in from the southeast we can expect wind slabs to be touchy for the next 24 hours, particularly above 2,000’ as moderate easterly winds rake through the advisory area.  This is a direct-action avalanche problem meaning we can expect fresh wind slabs to be sensitive to human triggers during and immediately following this storm.   Expect wind slabs to be in the 12- 24” range and relegated to the new snow accumulating on slick sun crusts  and weak faceted snow.

Red flags such as shooting cracks or whumphing in the snowpack are likely to be present in areas where wind slabs exist and should be interpreted as nothing other than unstable snow!  Best practices today and during this storm will be to avoid convexities and steep rollovers where these fresh wind slabs exist.  This is particularly important if a slope ends in a terrain trap such as a gully or flat bench where avalanche debris can accumulate.

Temperatures yesterday were very warm for March.  If the rain/ snow line climbs to near 2,000’ today, wet loose avalanches may come in to play.  Wet loose activity or roller balls may initiate a wet slab near treeline elevations as well.  Given the freeze/ thaw activity over the last week, the potential for a wet slab release is low but worth mentioning if temperatures rise and rain on snow becomes a reality.

Seattle ridge as seen from the motorized parking lot looking North.  This photo was taken at 5:30pm and the temperature at 1,000′ was 46 degrees.  

Cornices will further ripen with today’s sticky spring-storm.  We haven’t seen these fail naturally in earnest yet but rest assured they are losing strength and drawing closer to that point of failure.  Though beautiful to look at, avoid time spent below a cornice and stay well back from corniced ridges.