Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Thu
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 6 months ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

It’s still possible to trigger a slab avalanche in pockets of wind-drifted snow, particularly at upper elevations. Identify suspect areas using visual clues like scoured surfaces, cornices, and steep slopes holding stiff, dense-looking snow to figure out where a wind slab might lie in wait. Choose lower-angle terrain to reduce the risk of triggering an avalanche.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    Fresh wind slabs were responsible for two skier-triggered avalanches Monday afternoon in a neighboring forecast zone. While there is generally less snow available for wind transport in West Central, winds have been strong enough that slab formation is suspected in alpine terrain. Any newer wind slabs should be small but could still take you for a nasty ride if there are consequences in the runout below.

    Stomp on small test features, such as mini cornices or drifted pillows, and use hand shears to assess layer bonding. When in doubt, steer toward lower-angle, more planar slopes. A few inches of soft snow may hide denser, wind-drifted layers. Light to moderate northerly winds may form additional slabs on typically scoured slopes, especially near the Cascade Crest.

    (2/16/2026)

    A human-triggered wind slab on Mt. Ann in the West North.  The person who triggred it was caught and carried but fortunately uninjured. Northeast aspect at 5000 feet. 

    (SS-ASu-D1.5-S)

Avalanche Discussion

In addition to an inch or two of new snow Monday night, most of West Central, Stevens, and Snoqualmie Pass picked up about 6 inches of snow during the February 13–14 storm. A handful of slab, loose dry, and wet loose avalanches were reported over the last few days, but there wasn’t enough new snow for widespread activity. Snow totals increased farther north along the range, so expect slightly higher avalanche danger in and north of the Mountain Loop.

Observers in the West North reported significant wind transport from strong overnight winds, but limited evidence of cohesive wind slabs. Wind effect was more pronounced at higher elevations. The uppermost layer of new snow is settling and gaining cohesion, while faceted snow remains widespread at and just below the surface. Strengthening winds Monday afternoon also coincided with a few skier-triggered slab avalanches in that forecast zone (ob, ob).

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