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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

You might be able to find drifts deep enough to trigger avalanches on if you make it towards higher elevations on Sunday. Search for clues like pillowlike or textured snow deposits, long shooting cracks from your weight on the snow, or firmer feeling surfaces and avoid snow with characteristics like these on steep slopes. Travel will be variable, with a punchy crust that will get harder as you gain elevation. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Search for developing wind slabs, as you'll likely see actively blowing snow on Sunday. Identify where the snow lands. Feel for thicker deposits beneath you. Wind drifted snow builds on steep rollovers, around rocky features and on the sides of gullies. Identify these suspect locations, and if you notice any slab development in these areas, steer around them on slopes steeper than 35°, where it's possible that you could trigger avalanche. 

    Mid elevations saw a welcome change of snow rather than rain which began Saturday afternoon. We'll get a few inches Saturday evening and then our next flick of precipitation will begin Sunday afternoon. Small wind slabs may exist early in the day, and increasing southerly winds will aid in continued slab growth along with a few more inches of snowfall by the end of the day Sunday. 

    Snow may be well bonded to the underlying solstice crust, although we aren't certain. Slab sizes will increase as you gain elevation, as more snow fell at higher elevations and wind will be stronger. 

    (1/9/2023)

    Wind slabs like this could fail on steep slopes with a human-trigger.

    Photo: Irene Henninger

Avalanche Discussion

A few inches of rain fell throughout the zone since Tuesday, and wet avalanche activity resulted. With the cooling temperatures we expect wet avalanche activity to slow, but consider continuing to avoid travel beneath glide cracks, cornices, or snow blocks precariously sitting on exposed rocks. As mid and upper elevations begin getting a new coat of snow, some recently exposed glide cracks and rock slabs may become thinly covered by new snow, making it difficult to see these hazards until you are on top of them. 

If you make it into the backcountry, please tell us about the snow conditions and if you saw any avalanches by submitting an observation on our web page HERE or on the app, Avy. 

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