Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Look for fresh slabs of wind-drifted snow built by strong east and southeast winds. Bypassing steep terrain where you identify recent wind-loading will be the easiest way to avoid triggering an avalanche. Generally safe conditions are found in sheltered terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Active wind transport was reported today and will continue through Tuesday. A morning shift in wind direction will change up the pattern of wind loading, especially farther east in the zone. Look for wind slabs on aspects where you might not normally see them. Blowing and drifting snow will be the primary observation to figure out where the freshest, easiest-to-trigger slabs are building. Wind-affected snow surfaces and other clues can help identify the loading pattern if winds die down.

    The weak storm headed our way has more huff than fluff with only a few inches of new snow expected by Wednesday. With that in mind, the danger from wind slabs should mostly depend on how much light snow is on the surface. Deeper new snow equals the potential for bigger slabs. Most of the new wind slabs should be small and shallow given many areas only have 4" of new snow. But larger ones could form in areas that saw more new snow with the latest storm. 

     

    (3/12/2022)

    Look for shallow wind slabs on leeward aspects on Tuesday. The small cornice features right of the crown are indicators that this slope could be wind loaded

    Photo: Pete Durr- USFS

Avalanche Discussion

Observations on New Year’s Day varied in the zones adjacent to West Central. Fresh wind slabs were observed in Snoqualmie Pass. A person below Chair Peak was caught and carried a short distance after triggering a small wind slab.  Strong winds and wind-transported snow were observed on Ptarmigan Ridge in the Baker Backcountry. No older wind slabs from Friday’s storm were found and no new slab avalanches were reported in West North. 

Small dry loose avalanches were triggered in steep terrain. Despite full sun in the morning, a solid overnight refreeze and occasional high clouds kept warming at bay. The fresh snow was a much-needed change and good riding conditions were the main observation of the day. Surface hoar was found topping the snowpack on all aspects Monday morning but was knocked down and dispersed in areas that saw higher afternoon wind speeds.

Precipitation totals from the last storm in West Central were middling compared to adjacent zones. Alpental had 4” of new snow at mid-elevations while Stevens Pass saw a trace to an inch. The Alpine Meadows and Skookum Creek Snotels saw roughly 1.0” of rain but other stations in West Central saw half that or less. White Chuck lost a few inches of snow which means that any precipitation that did fall came down as rain. The Baker area in West North saw the most with 1.35” at Heather Meadows and up to 12” of new snow at mid-elevations.

Regions covered