Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow, wind, and a variety of old surfaces will make it easy to trigger avalanches on Sunday. Stay off of steep, wind-loaded slopes and cornices where avalanches could be big enough to bury you. In very steep, wind-sheltered terrain, you can trigger loose avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Avalanches will be the biggest and easiest to trigger above treeline. Plumes of blowing snow will point out the most dangerous slopes. Steer around obviously wind-loaded terrain immediately below ridgelines and cliffs.  If you're on a  ridge, give cornices a large berth as they can break further back than expected. Stay out from under cornices that could loom overhead.

    Cold temperatures created weak surfaces on many slopes prior to the storm, though you should expect some variability.  Carefully assess the bond at the new/old interface and how it changes as you travel. Use small test slopes and quick, informal tests to see how the snow slides. 

    (2/23/2023)

    Cracks break through wind-drifted slabs on a southeast aspect near treeline near Whistler peak.

    Photo: Will Govus

  • Loose Dry

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

    You can trigger dry loose avalanches on very steep slopes and in wind-sheltered terrain.  They could dig down into snow that fell earlier this week. If you see fast-running point releases, use caution near terrain traps like rocks, gullies, and cliffs.  These avalanches could be dangerous in consequential terrain.

    (3/24/2021) An example of loose avalanches and overhung cornices in the Cutthroat drainage from a previous season. Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

On Saturday, observers triggered a small wind slab avalanche that entrained loose snow on a northeast aspect around 8,000 feet of Kangaroo Ridge. On Friday, a group triggered a nearby large cornice fall after they felt a collapse while standing on a ridge near Tower Mountain. On Thursday, observers triggered a small wind slab avalanche in the Swamp Creek drainage at 7,500ft, northeast aspect. 

Following a storm at the beginning of the week, observers report 1.5-2 feet of snow above the Feb 12th crust near and above treeline near Washington Pass. On some slopes, the wind scoured off all recent snow and the crust was on the surface prior to Saturday. It's present up to at least 7000ft and is shallower at lower elevations and further east. 

Other avalanches occurred earlier in the week with the blustery storm. Observers near Harts Pass reported a large (size D2) avalanche that likely occurred on Tuesday due to a natural cornice fall on N, 7,100ft. On Monday, a large natural slab avalanche released below Blue Lake.  Blowing snow was observed near and above treeline and fresh cornices were growing along ridgelines.  Prior to this week's storm, The last significant avalanche cycle occurred on Feb 7th. 

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