Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 2, 2022
Submitted:
March 2, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Dallas Glass
Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie Pass
Location:
Commonwealth Basin (All Aspects Near and Below Treeline)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

A snow profiles on a NW aspect of Kendall Peak. You can still see older interfaces.
A percolation column through drier snow, shows that water is making its way deeper into the snowpack.
A breakable surface crust was forming despite warm temperatures.
Snowpack settlement, collapse, and open creeks abound.
Many creeks have opened during the recent rain event.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Temperature:
38°F
Wind:
Calm , S
New/Recent Snowfall:
No new snow, just rain.

Overcast with isolated very light rain showers in the morning. Warm and muggy with nearly no wind to speak of in the protected valley.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
4 Feb 28, 2022
() 		West Face of Kendall Peak
W 5400ft 		D2
R2 		U-Unknown N-Natural
Debris on debris on debris in the West Face of Kendall Path.
You can see old gouging and new gouging from this avalanche on the W face of Kendall Peak.
The broken trees are from an earlier slide this winter, but the debris from this wet avalanche ran very far on the "greased" track.
Report
7 Feb 28, 2022
() 		NW Face Kendall Peak
NW 5400ft 		D1.5
R1 		WS-Wet Slab N-Natural
Crowns along the NW face of Kendall Peak.
Report
8 Feb 28, 2022
() 		S Face Red Mt
S 5400ft 		D1.5
R1 		WS-Wet Slab N-Natural
One of many D1.5 to D2 avalanches found near the head of the valley.
Numerous debris piles from Red Mt and Kendall Peak in the very upper portions of Commonwealth Basin.
Report
1 Feb 28, 2022
() 		SW face of Red Mt
SW 5400ft 		D2.5
R2 		WS-Wet Slab N-Natural
Crown lines along the SW face of Red Mt. This slanb produced one of the large, more notable, avalanches observed in Commonwealth Basin.
Debris from the SW face of Red Mt.
Debris from the SW face of Red Mt.
The avalanche on the SW face of Red Mt, gouged the snowpack lower in the runout.
Looking up the debris to the startzone: Sw face Red Mt
Looking up the debris. SW face Red Mt
Shallow crowns were on many steep unsupported slopes.
Report
5 Feb 28, 2022
() 		SE Face Snoqualmie Mt
SE 5800ft 		D1.5 WS-Wet Slab N-Natural
Shallow crowns along the SE face of Snoqualmie Mt.
Loose wet avalanche debris below the SE face of Snoqualmie Mt. Debris can also be seen in the Concaine Couloir on Lundin Peak in the background.
Report
5 Feb 28, 2022
() 		Cave Ridge
E 5000ft 		D2
R2 		WS-Wet Slab N-Natural
Wet slab avalanche debris On the E Face of Cave Ridge.
Looking up the largest avalanche on the E Face of Cave Ridge.
Crowns all along the E Face of Cave Ridge.
Debris pushed into treed areas. E Face Cave Ridge
Report
West Face of Kendall Peak
NW Face Kendall Peak
S Face Red Mt
SW face of Red Mt
SE Face Snoqualmie Mt
Cave Ridge

Evidence from the avalanche cycle 2/26-28 is everywhere. While this was widespread, most of the slides are D1-D2. Only a few very notable avalanches were found.

Generally, shallow crowns (6-12") were seen on most steep open slopes. Based on the appearance of the debris, several avalanche cycles played out during this time period. I found wet debris piles ontop of shallower dry slab debris fields.

Snowpack Observations

The rain from this past week's atomspheric river significantly shaped the snowpack. Many creeks opened and lower elevation terrain lost substantial amounts of snow.

Any storm snow that fell prior to the rain, is now wet and transitioned to melt-forms. Runnels abound on open areas, and show the snowpack is now draining water well. Below the wet surface, I could still find the Valentine's Day and Lat Jan Crusts, but they are breaking down significantly as water passed through them. Pockets of drier snow were found in profiles, but large percolation columns were seen through these layers (see photo). None of these older weak layers produced notable results in tests.

A thin breakable surface crust (see photo) was forming today despite warm temperatures.

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