Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A large storm begins Friday night and avalanche danger will increase on Saturday. It is likely that you can trigger an avalanche on steep slopes, so as the storm continues stick to lower angle terrain, avoiding slopes steeper than 35 degrees. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Strong winds will actively redistribute snow into thick, reactive drifts at mid to upper elevations. You may find deep and touchy deposits of snow near rock outcroppings, along gullies, and on leeward slopes. Search for smooth or textured pillows, feel for firm, hollow snow, and identify areas that wind is depositing snow. Steer clear of spots where you find those conditions on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.  If you find windward slopes stripped of low-density snow, stick to those or stay in areas of lower angle terrain.

    (12/8/2021)

    Use visual clues to help you determine where Wind Slabs may be lurking near ridgelines.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

  • Storm Slabs

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

    This storm is not insignificant, and even in non-wind affected areas, you could find reactive slabs that are over a foot thick. Variations in temperature as the snow falls may play a role in forming reactive layers in the new snow. At this time it is unknown whether this will play a large role in avalanche activity. As it’s still actively storming during the day Saturday, make sure to investigate instabilities with hand shears or quick pits before thinking about getting on a steeper slope. Find small test slopes to jump on as well.  Otherwise, stick to slopes less than 35 degrees as we ride the brunt of the storm out.

    (2/13/2021) An example of a storm slab triggered on a convexity. Slabs this day were breaking easily on similar features at many elevations.  Photo: Jon Ferrian

Avalanche Discussion

If you’re caught in an avalanche this weekend, it could be a very rough ride, with a lot of exposed rocks and trees in this early season snowpack. As you travel, stay mindful of your surroundings with exposed creeks and other early-season hazards. Our snowpack has slowly built up (and shrunk) over the last month, but especially at lower elevations, it has not yet felt like winter. This weekend marks a major shift into full-on winter for us. There is a lot of uncertainty about the snowpack and this storm as it bombards us so be sure to increase your safety margins in your travels, as conditions will most likely be spicy. 

Regions covered