Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

We've generally been finding a stable snowpack in multiple locations throughout the zone. Continue to stay alert for and steer around small, isolated wind-drifted slabs if you're traveling into high-consequence terrain above treeline, especially further east in the zone or if more snowfall or wind occurs than forecasted.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    If you travel into above treeline terrain you may encounter small, isolated wind slabs in featured terrain like in gullies, around outcroppings, or on steep rollovers. There's a small chance these wind-drifted features could avalanche with a human trigger. If you find a wind slab, there's a good chance that you're in high-consequence terrain with a bad runout. Keep this in mind if you're committing to terrain like what was just described. Have an exit strategy in mind and a partner watching from nearby safe terrain. You'll probably be able to feel the difference in the snow if you shift onto a wind slab, with a slightly stiffer surface. There may also be shooting cracks. 

    You're probably more likely to find any wind slabs further east in the zone. You'll also be more likely to encounter these conditions if more snow falls or if there is more wind than forecasted, as the avalanche danger could then be higher. 

    It's unlikely that small, isolated wind slabs could fail with a human trigger above treeline. Stay alert for them though!

    Photo: Public Ob

Avalanche Discussion

I traveled to the Anderson-Watson Sno Park on Wednesday and my coworker Lee Lazzara went to Canyon Creek. We both reported similar findings of minimally wind-affected new snow and a generally right-side-up snowpack. Similar reports are coming in from the Baker backcountry as well. Similar to the last couple days we found a crust on steep south-facing terrain, while north-facing locations are remaining cold and dry. 

Weather conditions are maintaining the last few days' trend, with a chance for scattered showers and mainly light easterly winds, a less common direction for us. Starting Friday we'll start getting a little more precipitation which may last for several days with occasional breaks. 

 

 

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