Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 24, 2022
Submitted:
March 24, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Andrew Kiefer, Dallas Glass
Zone or Region:
West South
Location:
Mt St Helens, Worm Flows (2600-8200ft, E-S-W aspects)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

A view of the Worm Flows route from afar
Profile near the Worm Flows route (ENE, 5900ft)
Looking north into the crater with Rainier and Adams visible in the distance.
A slick ice crust coated snow surfaces above 7000ft.
Sinking in past the top of the ski boot in wet punchy snow near 3800ft
Small cornice fall chunks in the foreground and larger loose wet avalanches in the backgrond off Monitor Peak's SE face. The avalanches appeared >24 hours old.
The crown of a large natural avalanche in the crater on a NE aspect near 7600ft. The avalanche likely occurred during the last storm series 3/17-21.
Debris from a very large natural avalanche that ran in late February.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
35-45°F
Wind:
Moderate , S

Thin high clouds early, clearing throughout the day. Easterly winds in the AM shifting southerly around noon. Warm and spring-like.

No new avalanches. The most recent were wet loose to D1.5 on the SE aspect of Monitor Peak and small cornice falls in gullies but these all looked >24 hours old. Crowns from 2 large natural slab avalanches were visible in steep northerly terrain in the crater that looked several days old. Big debris piles from a few very large natural avalanches that ran in late February still visible. There was no evidence of avalanches on the on the 3/8 Facets/Early March Crust on the southside of Helens.

Snowpack Observations

The snowpack was strong and spring-like. A firm, boot supportable crust at the surface gradually thawed throughout the day. Snow softened by noon for pleasant corn-like turns on sun-exposed slopes 7000ft and below. Above, snow surfaces remained frozen and icy. The Early March Crust was found ↓80-100cm below the surface near and above treeline. In one test pit (ENE, 5900ft) the 3/8 Facets were rounding, moist, well bonded to the Early March Crust below, and did not fracture in snowpack tests. Continuous snow exists out of the Marble Mountain SnoPark at 2600ft and the Worm Flows route is in nice shape.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
Wet Loose
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
Unreactive
Stubborn
Reactive
Touchy
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
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