Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Use lower-angle features and slopes to navigate around steep terrain where you identify recently wind drifted snow. Look for increasing avalanche danger as snowfall and wind speeds ramp up in the afternoon.

A strong winter storm and High avalanche danger are forecast for the day after Christmas.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Avalanche danger at mid and upper elevations hinges on wind speeds and how much dry snow accumulated in the last week. Damp snow usually doesn't drift very easily, but some terrain has plenty of dry snow, especially at upper elevations. 

    Drifting snow will show you which slopes are loading up if the wind is blowing. In calmer conditions, look for clues like scoured snow surfaces, cornices, and drifts to show you the wind loading pattern in the terrain around you. 

    Use small test slopes or hand pits to gauge stability. Long shooting cracks or recent avalanches are signs you have found unstable snow. Avoid steep slopes with similar characteristics like snow cover, aspect, and exposure to wind.

    (3/23/2023)

    Blowing snow shows you where not to go.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Avoid travel on or immediately below steep slopes where you see fresh rollerballs and new avalanches, or simply find wet, mushy snow. Snow levels and temperatures have recently trended warmer than expected and Christmas day could bring more of the same.

Instead of being colder with lower snow levels than the weekend, Monday night brought similar or even warmer conditions. Precipitation amounts also diverged from what was expected with about 50% of forecast amounts recorded at weather stations around West Central.

Most snowfall in the forecast zones around West Central has consisted of damp new snow that produced minimal avalanche activity at mid-elevations. The outlier to this is Stevens Pass which experienced cooler temperatures and has drier snow above the rain crust buried on Dec 21st. Backcountry travelers have triggered small slab avalanches in both wind loaded and also sheltered terrain. 

West Central usually experiences a wide variety of conditions and also a lack of observations. It’s worth looking at the avalanche forecast for whatever zone is adjacent to where you are heading in the mountains.

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