####018004271#### WWUS86 KSEW 041737 SABWA SUMMARY BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE FORECAST FOR THE OLYMPICS AND WASHINGTON CASCADES NORTHWEST WEATHER AND AVALANCHE CENTER SEATTLE WASHINGTON 900 AM PST SUN JAN 4 2009 This forecast applies to back country avalanche terrain below 7000 feet and does not apply to highways or operating ski areas. WAZ513-518-519-019-042-501-502-051700- && ZONE AVALANCHE FORECASTS * OLYMPICS- WASHINGTON CASCADES NEAR AND WEST OF THE CREST- ....AVALANCHE WATCH FOR SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING.... Sunday morning through afternoon: Slowly decreasing CONSIDERABLE danger above 6000 feet and MODERATE below. Sunday night and early Monday morning: Significantly increasing danger becoming HIGH above 4000 feet and CONIDERABLE below. Monday afternoon: HIGH avalanche danger above 4 to 5000 feet and CONSIDERABLE below. Monday night: Slowly decreasing HIGH avalanche danger above 5000 feet and CONSIDERABLE below. * CASCADE PASSES, STEVENS, SNOQUALMIE AND WHITE PASSES- ....AVALANCHE WATCH FOR SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING.... Sunday morning through afternoon: Slowly decreasing CONSIDERABLE danger above 6000 feet and MODERATE below. Sunday night and early Monday morning: Significantly increasing danger becoming HIGH below 7000 feet. Monday afternoon: HIGH avalanche danger above 4 to 5000 feet and CONSIDERABLE below. Monday night: Slowly decreasing HIGH avalanche danger above 5000 feet and CONSIDERABLE below. * EAST SLOPES WASHINGTON CASCADES- ....AVALANCHE WATCH FOR SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING.... Sunday morning through afternoon: Slowly decreasing CONSIDERABLE danger above 6000 feet and MODERATE below. Sunday night and early Monday morning: Significantly increasing danger becoming HIGH above 4000 feet and CONIDERABLE below. Monday afternoon: HIGH avalanche danger above 5000 feet and CONSIDERABLE below. Monday night: Slowly decreasing HIGH avalanche danger above 5-6000 feet and CONSIDERABLE below. SNOWPACK SYNOPSIS Along the west slope areas and Olympics generally 10-20 inches of low density snow lie over denser snow over a crust from New Year’s Day. Similar upper snowpack exists along the east with less recent snow received. Below these upper layers there continues to be weak snow near the ground, especially along the east slopes and northeast Washington Cascades. Few avalanches have occurred over the past few days as recent snow continues to stabilize. However, the current snowpack structure is conducive to a significant increase in danger if loaded by heavy snow, increasing winds or warming...all of which are expected overnight Sunday and early Monday. SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT Slow settlement and stabilizing of the recent snow is expected under cloudy and cool weather during the day Sunday. By late afternoon increasing winds should begin to build new wind slabs and begin and increasing danger. Heavy rain or snow, strong winds and warming temperatures overnight should cause a significantly increasing danger with natural avalanches becoming likely. MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT Heavy snow at lowering freezing levels along with strong westerly crest level winds should maintain mostly unstable conditions and a high danger at mid and higher elevations. Previous natural avalanches or less wind at lower elevations should slightly decrease the danger there and along the east slopes where less snow is expected. Decreasing snow and winds overnight Monday should allow for further slow decrease in danger. && Backcountry travelers should be aware that elevation and geographic distinctions are approximate and that a transition zone between dangers exists. Remember there are avalanche safe areas in the mountains during all levels of avalanche danger. Contact local authorities in your area of interest for further information. NWAC weather data and forecasts are also available by calling 206-526-6677 for Washington, 503-808-2400 for the Mt Hood area, or by visiting our Web site at www.nwac.us. Kramer/Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center $$ ####018002848#### WWUS86 KPQR 041737 SABOR SUMMARY BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE FORECAST FOR THE MT HOOD AREA NORTHWEST WEATHER AND AVALANCHE CENTER SEATTLE WASHINGTON 900 AM PST SUN JAN 4 2009 This forecast applies to back country avalanche terrain below 7000 feet and does not apply to highways or operating ski areas. ORZ011-051700- && ZONE AVALANCHE FORECASTS * MT HOOD AREA- ....AVALANCHE WATCH FOR SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING.... Sunday morning through afternoon: Slowly decreasing CONSIDERABLE danger above 6000 feet and MODERATE below. Sunday night and early Monday morning: Significantly increasing danger becoming HIGH below 7000 feet. Monday afternoon: HIGH avalanche danger above 4 to 5000 feet and CONSIDERABLE below. Monday night: Slowly decreasing HIGH avalanche danger above 5000 feet and CONSIDERABLE below. SNOWPACK SYNOPSIS Generally 10-20 inches of low density snow lie over a strong crust formed after rain late New Year’s Day. He rain caused a significant avalanche cycle, however few avalanches have occurred over the past few days as recent new soft snow continues to stabilize over the crust. Special note: the current snowpack structure is conducive to a significant increase in danger if loaded by heavy snow, increasing winds or warming...all of which are expected overnight Sunday and early Monday. SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT Slow settlement and stabilizing of the recent snow is expected under cloudy and cool weather during the day Sunday. By late afternoon increasing winds should begin to build new wind slabs and begin and increasing danger. Heavy rain or snow, strong winds and warming temperatures overnight should cause a significantly increasing danger with natural avalanches becoming likely. MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT Heavy snow at lowering freezing levels along with strong westerly crest level winds should maintain mostly unstable conditions at all elevations early Monday with a high danger expected and further natural avalanches in steeper terrain. Previous natural avalanches or less wind at lower elevations should slightly decrease the danger later Monday and overnight Monday. && Backcountry travelers should be aware that elevation and geographic distinctions are approximate and that a transition zone between dangers exists. Remember there are avalanche safe areas in the mountains during all levels of avalanche danger. Contact local authorities in your area of interest for further information. NWAC weather data and forecasts are also available by calling 206-526-6677 for Washington, 503-808-2400 for the Mt Hood area, or by visiting our Web site at www.nwac.us. Kramer/Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center $$