Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You can still trigger avalanches at upper elevations on wind drifted slopes and around terrain features. Search for thicker, heavy deposits overlying lighter snow and avoid them on steep slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Strong winds redistributed low-density snow into reactive wind slabs since Saturday. Wind dissipated in the last 24 hours and slabs became less reactive. 1- 2 inches of snow could fall Thursday morning and is not expected to be enough to change avalanche conditions. Remain alert as isolated pockets of wind drifted snow are still present. 

    You are most likely to find these slabs in above treeline areas. Search for them on leeward slopes, on gully sides and around rocky outcroppings. Use quick tests like hand shears, test slopes and simply stomping on small wind-drifted features to evaluate wind slab characteristics as you travel. This will help you identify how widespread, deep, and reactive the slabs are. Steer around steep slopes where you identify these deposits. Observations of recent riming in some upper elevation areas may play a hand in keeping snow redistribution and slab development at bay.

    (12/15/2021)

    Search for signs of wind drifts as indicators for wind slab avalanches in steep terrain, such as the drifts in this recent photo

    Photo: Anna C

Avalanche Discussion

Last weekend’s storms left us with a gift of plentiful deep, light snow. Reports from the Baker backcountry yielded a number of avalanches since Saturday, most of which occurred in the top foot of snow. Meanwhile, observers reported a stable snowpack in wind-sheltered terrain with excellent travel conditions on skis and boards. No avalanches in deeper new snow layers or involving either the December 8th or Early December rain crusts were reported. 

Keep in mind that our snowpack is not yet at midwinter depths - exposed creeks, rocks, and stumps are still very real hazards. Recent observations are mainly from the Baker backcountry vicinity. If you’re getting out anywhere else, we’d love to hear from you! Our platform allows private observations visible only to forecasters if you prefer. You can submit an observation HERE.

 

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