Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Avalanches that are large enough to kill you are very likely in all elevation bands as this atmospheric river delivers snow through the night and during the day, with strong winds. Avoid traveling in all avalanche terrain, including flat and lower angle terrain beneath large, steep slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–2.5

    Human triggered avalanches are very likely and natural avalanches are likely. You can get killed in an avalanche on Thursday.  We're receiving well over a foot of snow Wednesday night and similar amounts are coming in during the day. Strong wind will redistribute much of the snow. It's going to be wild weather. Stick to mellow terrain if you get out, that's far away from steep overhead slopes. All steep slopes and the lower angle terrain beneath them are suspect.

    Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day as more snow falls, temperatures rise, and the wind peaks midday. Avalanches may break 3 feet deep or deeper. Some slides may only fail 6 inches or a foot down, but we suspect others will be much larger.  More activity is expected on wind loaded slopes, but all steep slopes are suspect for Thursday. Avoid all avalanche terrain. 

    Avalanches from higher elevations may be large enough that they could run down to the lower elevations via tight gullies or open, minimally treed paths. Beware even at lower elevations where it's only raining or snow isn't too deep yet the terrain connects you to snow-covered slopes far overhead. 

    (3/26/2023)

    Example photo of large slab avalanches, which could easily fail naturally or with a human trigger on Thursday. 

    Photo: Jason Speer

Avalanche Discussion

Near the top of the lower elevation band we expect well over a foot of snow to fall, but further down will probably just be rain. Small amounts of wet avalanche activity may occur in the lower elevation band, near the rain/snow interface on Thursday. Keep following the advice to avoid steep slopes and terrain under steep slopes if snow is wet and heavy, if you see rollerballs or small wet slides.

Around a foot of snow previously sat over the Solstice (12/21) Crust, which will more than double on Thursday. We don't expect any avalanches to happen below that layer. Depending on where you are in the zone, there may be different amounts of snow falling Wednesday night and Thursday, and avalanche danger may differ from the forecast if snowfall amounts are different. 

Regions covered