Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Stormy weather will continue to drive dangerous avalanche conditions Saturday in the West Central zone. Dail back your terrain choices and stay off all open slopes greater than 35 degrees. With all the new snow any avalanche could grow large and potentially deadly.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    You could find more than a foot of fresh snow around areas like the Mt Loop highway by Saturday morning, and you might even notice new debris piles from an overnight avalanche cycle. The potential for avalanches overnight and continued stormy weather serve as classic clues that this is a day to keep things simple. You can trigger avalanches within the storm snow on any open slope greater than 35 degrees not directly stripped by the wind. Use small slope tests and hand pits to observe the recent snow and determine which layers might fail. Even though we don’t expect significant natural avalanche activity to extend into the day, if you observe blowing snow, natural avalanches may still occur. This won’t be a day to linger in areas where avalanches can run or stop. 

    In nearby zones (Stevens Pass, East North/Central) weak persistent grains formed and were buried over the past week. A high degree of uncertainty exists surrounding this potential layer in the West Central. If you dig a snow profile, look for small sugary facets or feathery surface hoar about 4” (10cm) above the prominent 12/09 curst. If you travel at mid and upper elevations, consider limiting your exposure to large avalanche terrain where this layer might live. 

    (12/18/2020) Slab avalanches released naturally in some cases due to intense wind loading Friday afternoon.

Avalanche Discussion

With the bulk of the precipitation expected Friday night, avalanche danger should peak overnight and very slowly decline during the day. However, a Puget Sound Convergence Zone could maintain precipitation over a small portion of the zone creating locally higher avalanche danger or prolonging any natural avalanche cycle. This all comes on the heels of a very active stormy period. Snow continues to pile up and we're uncertain if locations have seen a widespread avalanche cycle yet. This storm may be all that’s needed to push the snowpack past its tipping point. 

Our next storm arrives Saturday evening and it looks very warm and wet. We don’t often talk much about the Day 2 outlook, but we expect very dangerous conditions to develop Saturday night with the possibility of a widespread avalanche cycle. Travel in the backcountry Saturday night is not recommended. 

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.

Regions covered