Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Residual wind-drifted slopes at higher elevations, with a few new inches of snow added on top, could avalanche with a human trigger. Search for stiffer wind-drifted pockets of snow at upper elevations and steer around them on steep slopes. Limited information exists at upper elevations, so be prepared to evaluate snow layers if you make it to higher elevations. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You could trigger an avalanche in the 6 inches or so of snow that will accumulate overnight and through midday at upper elevations. A remarkable difference exists between the upper and lower elevation band. Near the top of the mid elevation band is snowline, and as you continue higher, new snow amounts will increase. You're most likely to trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted slabs around 6 inches or deeper, so if you notice stiffer deposits, or wind-textured surfaces, this is an indicator that wind slabs are present. Steer around these slabs on slopes greater than 30°. 

    (1/9/2023)

    Shallow wind slabs I triggered last year on small test slopes in the Mountain Loop. You might be able to trigger similar slides on Thursday. 

    Photo: Irene Henninger

Avalanche Discussion

Rollerballs and small amounts of wet loose activity may occur in the new snow. Activity will mainly happen around the rain/snow line vicinity. If you see rollerballs or small wet slides coming down, avoid steep nearby slopes. Rising temperatures during the day means wet loose activity will slowly shift up in elevation as the temperatures increase. 

The few inches of new snow we're getting up high comes after a Christmas storm that dropped just over an inch of water in the West Central zone. This probably equated to about a foot of snow at upper elevations, probably about 6000 feet and higher. This layer was very wind-affected. There's still a small chance that an avalanche could fail underneath the Christmas storm layer, although a couple of days since the storm has likely improved stability. 

Lower elevations up through part of the mid-elevations have a moist to wet snowpack that's predominantly seen rain in the last week+. Snowlines have consistently been shrinking for weeks now, and consistent snow cover doesn't start until about 3500 feet, or even higher on south-facing aspects. There are open creeks, and thin snowpacks with rocks and trees poking through the snow or just barely covered. Upper elevations have a few feet of snow over a crust from the start of this month, but we're not sure how high in elevation that crust exists. If you get out, and especially if you make it to upper elevations, send us an observation.  Our information is very limited from up high. 

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