Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 12, 2022
Submitted:
March 12, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Irene Henninger, Katie Warren
Zone or Region:
East Central
Location:
Salmon la Sac (All aspects 2700-6000ft)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

A small portion of a debris flow from a west-facing wet snow avalanche which ran approximately 2000ft.
A large east-facing wet snow avalanche avalanche which ran approx 1500ft.
Path looks to be a frequent flyer with many layers of avalanche debris. The most recent likely occurred during the Feb 28th atmospheric river event, running as a large wet slab or wet loose avalanche.
A slab avalanche seen on a NNE aspect on one of the Goat Peaks at approx 6100ft in the Salmon la Sac area.
A slab avalanche on Cathedral Peak- approx 100ft wide on an east aspect.
Snow height of approcimately 180cm but transitioned to melt freeze at 3400ft in the Salmon la Sac area.
Creeks melting out at 3200ft and in the Salmon la Sac area.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
55°F
Wind:
Light

Hot day with morning and afternoon clouds although several hours midday was clear. Increasing pm clouds and a few lenticulars were indicators of the incoming weather. Light variable winds didn't cool snow surfaces where we traveled but cooled us slightly in the hot sun.

Large wet loose avalanches likely ran during 2/26-3/2 atmospheric river, most obvious on east and west aspects and many smaller ones on south faces. Saw very few isolated large wind slab (likely involving the late January persistent weak layer) on north to east aspects above 6000ft, probably occurring sometime during AR.

Snowpack Observations

Valley bottoms up to 3500ft were rapidly melting and surfaces were frozen, but softening a couple inches midday. This continued as the trend on the southerly half of the compass to at least 5500ft. Snowpack was a surprising 4ft deep on a flat surface at 3100ft, reaching upwards of 5ft deep by 3500ft. We traveled to the interface of the southeast portion of the West Central zone, finding different conditions there as from more northerly parts of the zone.

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