Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Very dangerous avalanche conditions will exist throughout the West South zone on Thursday. Significant snowfall and extreme winds will result in natural avalanches large enough to bury and kill you. Traveling in terrain where avalanches can start, run, or stop is not recommended.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2

    This is a big storm! Heavy precipitation, strong winds, and fluctuating freezing levels all point toward unstable conditions and natural avalanche activity on slopes greater than 35 degrees. We anticipate several rounds of natural avalanches on Wednesday night and during the daylight hours on Thursday as the snow piles up.  Even though a slope has already shed doesn't mean it can't reload and release again.  Accompanying extreme wind speeds will result in wind slabs on leeward slopes. The travel advice remains the same. Don't try to overthink this one - stay far away from all areas where avalanches can start, run, or stop. 

    (12/23/2024)

    This shallow but wide (300 feet) storm slab failed near the Solstice Crust earlier this week. Much larger avalanches are expected during this storm.

    Photo: Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

If you had hopes of heading to the mountains to play with your new toys or work off a holiday meal, be warned. This storm is forecast to wreak havoc on the mountains, with wind gusts approaching 100 mph and snowfall measured in feet, not inches. The volcanoes are expected to get pummeled - over 3 feet of snow is forecast for Paradise in the next 24 hours! The crest and southern volcanoes won't be immune. Very dangerous (high) avalanche danger is expected throughout the zone, from Mount St. Helens to Government Meadows and all the nooks and crannies in between. 

As mentioned above, several rounds of large natural avalanches are expected before this storm concludes. We don't anticipate seeing any avalanches break below the Solstice Crust. As of Wednesday, you could find this stout interface up to a foot below the surface at mid and upper elevations. It will create an excellent sliding surface for avalanches to run on and potentially travel long distances toward lower elevations.

Speaking of lower elevations, a bump in temperatures mid-morning could result in a switch to rain. It is generally expected to be rain below our forecast elevation bands, but if you find that rain is falling on dry snow, expect wet avalanches to follow.

A number of storms are lined up for the rest of the week, so there should be plenty of days to head out and play. Take Thursday to sleep in and recover from Auntie's spiked eggnog. It's not the day to try to outwit Mother Nature. Again, travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Regions covered