Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Triggering an avalanche is possible in wind-drifted snow at upper elevations. Navigate around steep terrain where you suspect denser slabs are perched on softer snow below. Wet avalanche activity should diminish Monday if clouds limit warming from the sun.

Update NTL  to Moderate @ 6:08 for overnight wind speeds and wind transport.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Stubborn wind slabs from the last storm and shallow pockets of newly wind drifted snow should both be on your radar tomorrow. Alpine winds are forecast to be just strong enough to transport recent new snow into small but fresh slabs.

    If you trigger a slab avalanche Monday it would likely be on downwind slopes with 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 cornices and wind-scoured ridgelines to identify areas of wind slab. 

    As usual, shift to a more conservative plan if there is stronger wind and more active loading than expected.

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

     

Avalanche Discussion

Blue sky and full sun spurred a round of wet avalanches to D2 across the zone Sunday. Mid-level clouds are forecast to limit warming - and therefore avalanche activity - on solar aspects Monday. Be on the lookout for more avalanche activity if the clouds fail to keep the sun in check. Wet loose avalanches are unlikely and riding conditions are poor where a stout crust caps the snowpack.

No new avalanches in storm or wind slab layers were reported. Avalanche activity on shaded slopes was limited to small sluffs in steep terrain. Minor wind transport was noted on some ridgelines but it was not enough to build new slabs. A fresh crop of surface hoar appeared in many areas and probably survived the day on shaded slopes.

An active weather pattern December 28-31, 2022,  brought almost 50” of snow to Heather Meadows. This has settled to 30” or so sitting on the crust from the rain event the prior week. Other areas of West North received 50-75% of that amount with 15-20” now over the same rain crust.  

Human and natural avalanche activity peaked on Saturday morning. Large human triggered avalanches were reported from mid-elevation terrain in the Baker Backcountry and other areas around Hwy 542. Very large natural avalanches were observed on the flanks of Shuksan and the south side of Table Mt. These were visible with improved visibility Sunday. 

Regions covered