Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day as wind redistributes snow into more reactive drifts. Watch and feel for changes in the snow as you travel, noting stiffer-feeling surfaces or identifying wind-affected, textured surfaces. Steep rollovers and other areas of unsupported terrain are where you are most likely to trigger an avalanche, so steer around these locations if you identify newly wind-drifted snow on the slope. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New wind slabs will develop as wind increases throughout the day on Friday. Pay attention to active signs of loading as you travel, by identifying blowing snow and noting where it is landing. Feel for changing snow beneath you, by noting between softer or harder (wind-affected) snow surfaces as you move. Long, shooting cracks or whumphing are strong indicators that a slope is ready to slide. If you identify any of these characteristics, consider avoiding nearby slopes that are greater than 35 degrees.  

    You are most likely to find drifts near ridgelines, in gullies, around rocky outcroppings, or on steep rollovers. Snow cover at lower elevations doesn't appear to be deep enough to produce avalanches in most areas, however, in some isolated locations such as on smooth, grassy slopes, there might be enough snow to produce a sizeable avalanche. Even if an avalanche is small, if you are pushed into a terrain trap, consequences of getting caught in a slide could be worse.  Make sure to evaluate your surroundings constantly, whether traveling up, down, or across a slope and quickly change your plans when you encounter differences from what you expect to see. 

     

    (4/18/2022)

    An old photo of small slabs cracking in wind drifted locations. This indicates that the snowpack could be weak.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Most backcountry reports as of late are indicating a strong snowpack, however, one team in the Baker Backcountry experienced a single large whumph near treeline on Wednesday. You can read their report HERE.  A nearby pit indicated rounding facets between crust layers around a meter down, which have been found in varying amounts throughout many of our zones. Observations like this remind us not to take the snowpack for granted.

One person was fully buried on Wednesday, but was quickly dug out. The avalanche occurred in a short, steep gully feature in backcountry terrain adjacent to Mt. Baker Ski Area. Details are sparse, but it appears that a small loose dry avalanche was triggered either by the victim or someone above. Though the avalanche was very small, it still highlights both the need to be aware of terrain traps below and have good communication with those around you.

The snowpack is not yet deep, and there are still higher risks of hitting trees and rocks during your travels than in a mid-season snowpack. Information about the snowpack is limited, so if you are out in the mountains, let us know what you encounter by submitting an observation. 

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