Boletín de aludes

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Sat
Alta montaña
3 · Notable
Límite del bosque
3 · Notable
Bajo el límite
2 · Moderado
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó last year. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

Human-triggered avalanches are likely, so avoid steep slopes, especially where you find wind drifting the snow into thicker deposits. As you climb in elevation, you can expect the danger to increase. Sun breaks will cause wet avalanches on steep slopes facing the sun, so avoid slopes in areas where you see rollerballs or small wet slides and shift to shadier or lower angle terrain. 

Problemas de aludes

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Likely
    Tamaño
    1–2

    Several natural and human-triggered avalanches were reported on Thursday in neighboring zones. Many of these avalanches occurred on wind-loaded features, which you can read about in THIS observation from a forecaster who was in the West North zone on Thursday.  Most of the avalanches were triggered in areas where snow was actively loading onto a slope, forming new drifts. Some drifts were shallow and soft, and others were larger and a little harder. 

    We'll have a break in the multi-day storm on Friday, but given the recent loading event, you can still expect to trigger small and large avalanches in recently drifted snow. Search for thicker-feeling snow beneath you, and identify smooth, pillowlike surfaces or textured-looking snow. Avoid areas where you identify these wind slabs on steep slopes. 

    (3/13/2025)

    The crown of a small (D1) intentionally triggered wind slab along a ridge at 5300 in the neighboring Stevens Pass zone. Photo: Katie Warren

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–1.5

    The sun will break through clouds for at least part of the day, and you can expect rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches on steep slopes that are directly facing the sun. The largest amounts of activity will occur where light, fluffy surface layers exist.

    Avalanches or rollerballs will first initiate where snow falls off trees, or near rocky outcroppings. They may pick up mass as they roll or slide downhill. If you notice this activity, or feel the snow surface getting wet and heavy, steer around steep slopes facing into the sun. Shift to lower angle terrain away from where avalanches on those steep slopes will run, or shadier aspects. 

    Example photo: 

    Avoid travel in areas where you find rollerballs or small wet avalanches like these. 

    Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mtn Ascents

Avalanche Discussion

The neighboring West North zone has a persistent weak layer avalanche problem, which sits just a few inches above the March 4 crust, about 2 feet deep. Surface hoar that formed last week was buried in that location. We are uncertain whether this layer of exists in the West Central zone. If it does, you'll be able to find it on shady (northerly) slopes at mid and upper elevations, a few inches above the obvious uppermost crust in the snowpack. Consider avoiding steep slopes on the northerly half of the compass if you're in doubt or find weaknesses above the crust. 

On Friday we have a slight lull before more snow comes back into the picture for Saturday. Even if the map is colored orange on both days, stability may slightly improve and trend on the lower side of Considerable for Friday before transitioning to a bit more spicy kind of orange for the weekend. 

If you make it into the backcountry, please share with us what you find by submitting an obervation HERE, or on the Avy App. 

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