Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Periods of moderate wind are forecast for the morning. Look for and assess freshly drifted snow before moving onto steep and wind exposed slopes. Wind speeds could increase again in the afternoon as the next storm apporaches. Be prepared to shift toward sheltered terrain at day’s end.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    There are a couple of variations on wind slab that you could find tomorrow. One would be older slabs that formed during the last storm. The other kind would be fresher slabs that form early Tuesday morning or again in the afternoon. These would trend toward being shallower but more sensitive to triggering. 

    If it’s windy, blowing and drifting snow will show which slopes are loading up. These are also the ones you would want to avoid. If not so windy, track changes in snow depth, texture, and stiffness as you gain elevation and change aspects. Hand shear and stomping on test slopes or wind lips can provide information about the reactivity of fresh slabs.

    (1/2/2025)

    Obvious signs of wind transport along this exposed ridge pointed toward potentially loaded slopes. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Overnight snow amounts likely ranged between 6-12" of new snow. The Decline Creek snotel added 1.4" of precipitation overnight, with other weather stations seeing a bit less. Avalanche activity was mixed in the zones neighboring West Central. Warmer conditions and less snow were reported from both of the passes, with solar aspects warming and becoming moist. Small, reactive wind slabs were found along ridgeline in Snoqualmie Pass. West North had significantly more avalanche activity. 

 

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