Northwest Mountains

Avalanche conditions remain generally safe with 2 to 4 inches of snowfall expected today.  Basal weak layers on the north half of the compass have become dormant and unreactive in the Northwest Mountains.  Avalanches are unlikely but not impossible.  In extreme terrain where you find a shallow snowpack in rocky terrain due to wind redistribution, avalanches remain a potential.  Continue to expose only one person at a time to avalanche hazards in the event you are very unlucky and trigger a surprise avalanche.

A small storm is forecasted to deposit 2 to 4 inches of snow today.  Meager snow totals will not have an impact on the danger rating which remains at LOW.  At the highest elevations, west-northwest winds may drift the few inches of new snow onto leeward features, but not enough snow is forecasted to create a new avalanche problem or cause concern.  This little storm will likely just improve riding conditions.

Basal weak layers that were responsible for the extensive avalanche activity at the end of December have largely become unreactive and no longer present much of a concern for human-triggered avalanches.  It has been nearly three full weeks since the last reported deep-failing natural avalanches and over two weeks since the last explosive-triggered avalanche.  The snowpack has entered a quiet period and avalanches are very unlikely until mother nature produces a significant storm or temperatures increase above seasonal norms and new avalanche problems develop.  Even during periods of LOW danger, small avalanches remain a possibility in extreme terrain.  If you choose to recreate in extreme terrain consider the consequences of a small avalanche and what would happen if you were knocked down by moving snow or fell due to firm snow surfaces.

During periods of LOW danger, it is important to maintain safe travel habits.  Expose only one person at a time to avalanche hazards, tell others your plan for the day, and perform trailhead beacon checks.  Following these procedures will provide an extra margin of safety even if you happen to be very unlucky and trigger an unexpected avalanche.