Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

BRRR! Wednesday is going to be a cold one up in the mountains! With all the light dry snow, you may find that east winds formed new slabs in some rather unusual locations. Steer around smooth pillow-like drifts on steep slopes and seek out less wind-affected terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You don’t have to look far in the West South zone to see the effects of recent East winds. Textured snow surfaces, scoured slopes, and sharp drifts abound. During patterns like this, you may find wind slabs in some unusual spots. So, let these observations help point out potentially wind-loaded terrain. If you suspect a slope holds a possible wind slab find another way around. Look for lower angled or less wind-affected snow to avoid the problem. Most of these new slabs should be relatively shallow and small, but you may encounter larger and deeper avalanches on exposed ridgelines, near the base of cliffs, or in rock-walled gullies. 

    (2/22/2022)

    A small shooting crack in a wind-loaded pocket near treeline. These are the types of pillow-like drifts than can produce wind slab avalanches. 

    Photo: Shane Robinson

Avalanche Discussion

While we’re expecting sunshine and light winds, Wednesday is going to feel downright frigid in the West South zone. This may be one of the coldest days of the winter. Make sure you are ready for the arctic temperatures and watch for possibly cold-related injuries. 

Cold temperatures and mostly cloudy skies continue to help preserve the recent storm snow. Even though we’re several days out from this past weekend’s storm, shaded and wind-sheltered slopes hold light, dry, unconsolidated powder. Some locations saw periods of sunshine Sunday. In these spots a thin breakable crust may have formed on the surface. As the sun comes out in earnest, Wednesday, you could see the snow start to change. This may even result in a few small loose slides. However, the very cold temperatures should limit the size and scale of these natural avalanches. 

At the moment our focus remains entirely on the upper couple of feet in the snowpack. This recent storm brought 10-20” of snow to locations around the West South zone and buried a thin crust on 2/19. You can find this layer by searching 1-2” above the very prominent Valentine’s Day crust. In some snow profiles, weaker snow was observed between these two layers. While this isn’t a concern at the moment, we are tracking it going forward.

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