Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

You could trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted snow deposits at mid and upper elevations on Sunday. Search for actively blowing snow to see where it lands, feel for stiffer deposits beneath you, and identify clues like long shooting cracks from your weight on the snow, as obvious signs to avoid travel on steep slopes. Snow surfaces will be variable, with bumpy crusts that you might be able to break through down low, but with new snow covering the crust at higher elevations. 

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Temperatures are finally cooling a little, but glide and shed-style avalanches oftentimes still run even after snow surfaces begin to freeze. On Sunday, remain aware of overhead glide cracks, cornices, or chunks of snow perched on exposed rock features. Consider avoiding the slopes beneath these features. There's only a very small chance that anything will break free or avalanche while you're beneath it, but if it does the consequences will be high. 

    (12/21/2024)

    Lots of glide cracks, wrinkles, and gravity-defying snow chunks on  the northeast side of Huntoon Point

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Search for developing wind slabs, as you'll likely see actively blowing snow on Sunday. Identify where the snow lands. Feel for thicker deposits beneath you. You're most likely to find drifts on steep rollovers, around rocky features and on the sides of gullies. Identify these suspect locations, and if you notice any slab development in these areas, steer around them on slopes steeper than 35°.

    Mid elevations saw a welcome change from rain to snow beginning Saturday afternoon. We'll get a few inches Saturday evening and then our next flick of precipitation will begin Sunday afternoon. Small wind slabs may exist early in the day, and increasing southerly winds will aid in continued slab growth along with a few more inches of snowfall by the end of the day Sunday. 

    Snow may be well bonded to the underlying solstice crust, although we aren't certain. Slab sizes will increase as you gain elevation, as more snow fell at higher elevations and wind will be stronger. 

    (3/2/2024)

    Example photo: a human triggered slab avalanche in wind-drifted snow in the Baker backcountry. This is similar to what you might see on Sunday. 

    (SS-AS-D1.5-S)

    Photo: Kameron Decker Harris

Avalanche Discussion

In areas where you find just a few inches of new snow over a supportable layer, which is probably in the lower elevation band, small moist snow avalanches may run in the new snow layer. This recent new snow is very welcome, after we've received over 5 inches of water since Tuesday, most of which has fallen as rain except at the highest elevations. Observers noted numerous wet slab, glide, wet loose, and other shed-style avalanches, most of which occurred Tuesday night during the first intense period of rain.  

A forecaster went out for a quick trip in the Baker backcountry on Saturday (OBSERVATION). He observed that there's a number of newly exposed glide cracks and rock slabs on steep slopes that you might encounter, especially when they're sneakily covered by a few inches of fresh snow like they may be on Sunday. A soft surface crust was just barely supportable on skis, but when he took his skis off he sank into the wet snow almost to his waist. Expect a slightly firmer crust as temperatures drop for Sunday. 

If you make it into the backcountry, please tell us about the snow conditions and if you saw any avalanches by submitting an observation on our web page HERE or on the app, Avy. 

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