Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Wet avalanche activity on southerly slopes has likely slowed after a few warm days and cold nights. A small, isolated wet avalanche might still happen if steep, sunny slopes soften and get wetter than previous days. Expect crusty conditions on south-facing terrain before it softens midday, and dry, cold snow on shady aspects. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Most wet avalanche activity likely happened in the last few days, when the blue skies first hit us hard. A backcountry traveler found recent wet loose avalanches running from steep, sunny slopes above them at Green Mountain on Monday (OBSERVATION). We're in a bit of a steady weather pattern now, and south-facing snow has transitioned to melt-freeze at and near the surface. A crust forms overnight and softens, becoming moist,  during the day. 

    The odd wet loose or glide avalanche may still run. Small, thinner patches of snow over vegetation and rocks at lower to mid elevations are most likely to avalanche unexpectedly. If you start seeing any snow sliding or if you're sinking several inches into the snowpack, time to reevaluate and move to shadier slopes. 

    (12/2/2024)

Avalanche Discussion

Expect crusty snow surfaces on south facing slopes and at lower elevations, until they start softening mid-morning. The sun will first begin softening more easterly slopes before transitioning south and finally westerly in the afternoon. Several observers have noted that despite all the blue skies and sunlight it's not really too warm and surprisingly not causing more avalanche activity or wetting of the snow. It's early December, and the sun is at a low angle in the sky. We see sun for a much shorter period of the day than in April as well. 

On shady aspects you may find wind drifted snow or possibly some nice powder. During my West Central outing on Saturday I found surface hoar and near surface facets forming at and near the surface, as they usually do during high pressure. There's a lot of variability throughout the zone, but if you make it to shady upper elevations there may still be the odd wind slab that could avalanche with a human trigger. If you're in high conseqence terrain like above a gully, cliff, trees, or exposed rocks even a small avalanche could cause quite a bit of harm. 

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