Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You can trigger an avalanche in freshly wind-drifted snow at upper elevations. Be on the lookout for steep terrain holding shallow but unstable slabs perched on slick crust or old, hard wind slabs below. If you do find a new slab it should be small and easy to avoid with good route finding.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Observers in West North reported just enough new snow and wind to make a few fresh wind slabs. If you find more than an inch or two of new snow you will likely find new  slabs as well. They should be dispersed in distribution and small in size - but big enough to be a surprise if you get caught off guard. As usual small avalanches can have big consequences in extreme or otherwise consequential terrain. 

    If you trigger a slab avalanche it would likely be on leeward slopes just below ridgelines, or on terrain features like convex rollovers, gully walls, or around cliffs and rock outcroppings. Look for blowing snow, changes in snow consistency, or visual clues like wind-scoured ridgelines to identify areas of wind slab.

    Small wind loaded features at ridgeline can serve as test slopes to gauge the reactivity of fresh wind slabs.

     

Avalanche Discussion

West Central and adjoining zones to the east and south saw little in the way of new precipitation. West North managed to squeak out 0.2-0.3” of snow water equivalent equating to 2-4” of new snow - just enough to cover the sun crusts and wind eroded surfaces observed Sunday. Similar amounts could be found north or east of Darrington as well.

If the sun breaks out Wednesday you might see minor signs of instability like rollerballs or very small wet loose avalanches in areas that received new snow. Dry loose sluffs are still worth being aware of on the steepest slopes. Good riding conditions can still be found and a few inches of fresh will only make things better. 

Under the few inches of new snow, slick sun crust and debris from older wet avalanches top the snowpack on solar aspects. Near-surface faceting was observed in sheltered areas and faceting around the MLK crust buried 1-3’ deep has been reported from adjoining forecast zones. Neither surface nor crust faceting is currently an issue. On the other hand, they are layers to track going into fresh snowfall and loading at the end of the week.

 

Regions covered