Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Avoid travel on steep slopes with wet snow over a crust or that are seeing direct sunshine. You can trigger slabs of new and wind-drifted snow at upper elevations - check the bond of fresh layers of dry snow before traveling into avalanche terrain. Consider the avalanche danger a step higher and shift to simpler, lower-angle terrain if you observe widespread signs of natural or human-triggered avalanche activity.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Moist new snow over crust is primed to produce both natural and human-triggered avalanches on Sunday. Naturals are more likely on slopes seeing direct sun. You can trigger one on any steep slope where wet new snow overlies the old, crusty snow surface below. While the crust may not be frozen and slick, it’s firm enough for snow to slide on it easily.

    Keep an eye on terrain overhead and give some room to any steep slope seeing direct sun or where you observe rollerballs or small wet loose avalanches. Track how much snow is starting to move around you if descending steep slopes. Wet loose avalanches gained mass and momentum quickly on Saturday, and it would have been easy to get picked up and dragged down the hill if you weren’t paying attention. Or just stay off steep slopes with wet new snow over the crust.

    (4/12/2023)

    This is the kind of wet avalanche you could trigger on Sunday. While most will not be very big, they can still pack enough punch to knock you down and carry you downhill. They are even more dangerous with terrain traps like tress, rocks or gullies in the runout.

    Photo: NWAC Public Obs

  • Storm Slabs

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

    You might be able to trigger a slab avalanche in dry snow at upper elevations, especially farther west in the forecast zone, where more precipitation and snow fell on Saturday.  While you are more likely to trigger a slab in wind-loaded terrain, there is enough snow out there that it's worth investigating all aspects. Slabs can become more reactive when they get their first hit of sun. Use simple tests like slope cuts and hand shears to check the bond of any dry snow layers you find.

    (1/1/2023)

    Natural storm slab avalanche, likely triggered by snow falling from the trees above

    Photo: Jeff Hambleton

Avalanche Discussion

Chunks of cornice, pockets of snow clinging to steep rock, and glide avalanches are still things to look out for. These dangers are easy to identify and avoid as long as you are aware of what is directly overhead. These avalanches become more sporadic every day but the danger is still out there, and the consequences are high if you are in the way when one cuts loose.

Snotel sites in West Central picked up between 0.5" and 1.5” of precipitation by the end of Saturday, which equates to 4-12" of new snow. In neighboring forecast zones, the new snow was poorly bonded to the soft crust below. Wet loose avalanches were easy to trigger, running fast and entraining all the new snow. No wind transport or fresh slab formation was observed. 

Regions covered