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

Avalanche danger is limited to slabs of wind drifted snow at upper elevations. There is a low likelihood of triggering an avalanche. Getting caught in one could still have a bad outcome in terrain where you could get swept down a large alpine face, off a cliff, or into trees.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs will appear as smooth, hard snow in a sea of uneven, wind hammered surfaces.  You might find wind slabs easier to trigger where resting on top of slick sun crust or on unsupported, convex breakovers.

    Cracking on wind loaded test features (short steep slopes, small cornices) is a sign nearby slabs might release. Use hand shears to evaluate wind slab bonding if climbing into steep alpine terrain. On descent take your time moving onto wind loaded slopes, especially with consequential terrain below. “Low danger” isn’t “no danger.”

    A few inches of new snow and moderate winds shouldn't do much to increase hazard. They could obscure older wind slabs or build small fresh slabs at upper elevations.

    (1/29/2023)

    Scoured surfaces (left) and low angle loaded slopes (right) on Mt. Ann

Avalanche Discussion

Up and down the west slopes some version of wind affected snow can be found nearly everywhere. Eroded ridgelines, scoured slopes, grabby slabs, and dense wind crust are the norm near and above treeline. Wind slabs were easy to find but observed as mostly unreactive on Sunday and Monday. No shooting cracks or new avalanches were observed. You might still find an unstable pocket if you look hard enough.  

Slick sun crust and debris from two-day-old wet avalanches top the snowpack on solar aspects. Near-surface faceting was observed in sheltered areas and faceting around the MLK crust buried 1-3’ deep has been reported from adjoining forecast zones. Faceting around the MLK crust is most noteworthy in Steven Pass which has the least snow over the crust. Neither surface nor crust faceting is currently an issue. On the other hand, they are layers to track going into fresh snowfall and loading at the end of the week.

Regions covered