Date:
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Contact:
Jeff Adamson - 509-667-2815 (Wenatchee)
Dustin Terpening - 360-757-5997 (Burlington)
The North Cascades Highway is closed due to avalanche danger. We have already had one slide today, and there are a couple dozen avalanche chutes between Diablo and Silver Star that are full and becoming more unstable by the hour as the temperature continues to climb.
The gates are closed at milepost 134 on the west side and 170.6 on the east side.
Avalanche experts will return Monday, May 19 to assess the avalanche and road conditions. We will have a better idea then when we can reopen the highway.
The Northwest Avalanche and Weather Center has issued a backcountry avalanche warning advising everyone to stay out of the backcountry this weekend.
The North Cascades, besides having more avalanche chutes than anywhere else, also has some of the tallest and longest ones. Avalanches could have the consistency of wet concrete and will likely include rocks and wood debris, so you wouldn't want to be on the highway if that happens.
This weekend's situation is highly unusual. Traditionally, the chutes aren’t still full by this time of year. This spring has been so cold that, while full, the chutes have remained stable. This 30-plus degree rise in temperature heats up the top layer of snow, making it heavier and creating a slip-plane with the layer below.
If crews find significant slides on Monday, it could take several days to clean up. All we can do is tell you to check the web page or call 5-1-1.
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