Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Only a few inches are in the forecast, but strong winds will drift loose surface snow and maintain dangerous conditions at upper elevations. Look for blowing snow, fresh cornices, rounded pillows, cracking underfoot, and stiff, hollow-sounding snow. Avoid steep slopes actively accumulating wind-drifted snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong west winds should transport loose surface snow and build fresh wind slabs. This wind direction can present quite differently in both direction and intensity across the zone. Some ridgelines and valleys should see heavy loading, while others experience little wind effect. Conditions will be highly variable depending on terrain exposure and local wind patterns. You may find moderate winds and lower danger in some areas.

    In exposed alpine terrain, slabs may grow quickly during sustained wind loading. Natural avalanches are possible, especially where older, weaker layers lurk a bit deeper in the snowpack. There is not really a reliable way to figure out which slopes are more dangerous without stepping onto the slope and digging. The best policy will be to just avoid being on or directly under steep slopes actively loading up with snow.

    (3/23/2023)

    Blowing snow and fresh cornices mean there is a very, very good chance of triggering a slab on the slope below to the right.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Speaking of deeper and weaker layers . . . Up to five different storm interfaces  - sometimes including buried surface hoar, small facets, or simply just soft, weak, fresh snow - have been observed in the layering at or above a thin crust buried on Feb 13th. This layering is likely scattered and inconsistent, but might still be found in both sheltered and wind-loaded terrain. 

    Other forecast zones with more established, persistent slab problems have observations of whumphing, long shooting cracks, and both human- and naturally triggered avalanches. If you observe the same, consider yourself warned. Steer away from very steep, unsupported terrain, especially slopes with significant consequences in the runout below.

    (2/24/2026)

    Human-triggered avalanche on a southeast aspect of Mt Herman on Tuesday.  

    Photo: Jere Burrell - Guided Exposure

Avalanche Discussion

The danger rating will depend largely on how much wind-transported snow you find on Thursday. Make decisions one slope at a time, and think about the consequences of getting caught—not just whether a slope will slide.

An observer in the Baker Backcountry reported minimal wind transport on Wednesday. They did find some buried surface hoar in a pit at 5000 feet on a northerly aspect that produced hard results in testing. The snow surface was warming up and producing rollers at low elevations. Also, there was a late report of a large, snowmobile-triggered avalanche in upper-elevation terrain near Canyon Creek on Tuesday. No other details were provided. 

There were also a handful of avalanches earlier in the week in the Baker Backcountry, including a large slab triggered during avalanche control work, small natural sluffs and slabs, and one human-triggered slab on Mount Herman. An older, large slab was also observed in Bagley Basin, likely dating back to peak storm intensity Sunday night into Monday morning.

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