Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Human triggered avalanches are likely as we receive more snow overnight and through the day on Sunday. Avoid traveling on steep slopes especially where the wind drifts the snow into thicker slabs. Small wet avalanches at lower elevations may occur as well. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    The chances of triggering an avalanche are highest in wind-loaded areas. As temperatures increase in the afternoon, expect the new snow to be easiser to trigger even in wind-sheltered terrain. Avalanches could be about 6 inches to 1 foot deep. 

    Track new snow depth and distribution as you gain elevation and change aspects. Look for clues like wind-scoured snow surfaces, cornices, and drifts to show wind patterns near you. Feel for "upside down" snow, where surface snow is heavier than softer underlying snow. If you see any signs of recent avalanches or experience long, shooting cracks, avoid slopes over 35°.

    (12/26/2024)

    The crown of a skier triggered slab avalanche that ran in the new snow. Stevens Pass zone, SE, 5,200ft

Avalanche Discussion

Small amounts of wet avalanche activity may happen naturally or with a human trigger at lower elevations. Depending on how much the temperatures bump up in the afternoon, wet avalanche activity, if any, could shift a little higher than earlier in the day. If you see natural avalanches, if snow is wet and heavy, or you can push wet snow downhill, limit your exposure to steep nearby slopes. 

There simply isn't enough snow to result in avalanches in a large portion of the lower elevation band. Snow cover just barely exists from 2500-3500ft depending on what aspect you're facing or where in the zone you are, but it's been highly impacted by rain and warm temperatures and we don't believe there is much of an avalanche concern at that elevation. From 4000-4500ft, conditions may be more similar to the mid elevation band. 

We received around 1.5 feet of snow Wednesday night to Thursday, which makes up over half the snowpack above the 12/21 Solstice Crust. The neighboring Stevens Pass zone had several large human-triggered avalanches, and mitigation at the ski area also produced large avalanches. Meanwhile in the West North zone, with not quite 2ft of storm snow, layers were more stubborn and there was limited avalanche activity. 

Avalanche danger may differ from the forecast if the weather is different. If you're in the mountains, let us know what you see by submitting an observation.

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