Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Wednesday should be the final day of warm temperatures before the weather shifts on Thursday. Keep an eye on slopes above you and limit your time below any precariously hanging blocks of snow. They're more likely to fall down than you are to trigger an avalanche beneath your feet.

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2

    During prolonged periods of warm and sunny weather, the threat of "shed-style" avalanches increases. We're not necessarily talking about your standard definition glides with this one, although we wouldn't be surprised to hear of one. We're more focused on random chunks of snow falling due to warmth. So keep an eye on what's above you. Limit the time spent traveling below crevasse-like cracks, blocks of snow clinging to rocky ledges/cliffs, or sagging cornices. 

    (1/26/2025)

    Glide cracks and weakening cornices are just some of the overhead hazards to manage during warm and sunny weather. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Upper-elevation weather stations around the zone have remained above freezing since the evening of the 26th. That will begin to change over the next few days, making Wednesday last call for springtime weather and fun in the sun. Times like these contain just enough uncertainty to keep us from calling conditions low, but that doesn't mean it is particularly dangerous out there. Unusual weather can lead to unusual avalanches. The message is to keep your avalanche brain active and eyes open. You don't want to travel as if nothing is going on and be surprised by a rogue slide.

In terms of the snowpack, the surface is best categorized as variable. There's no real discernable pattern that we can point to in terms of aspect or elevation for the distribution of any of the numerous surfaces out there. The only aspect we can talk about with certainty is steep southerly slopes, which are currently in a melt-freeze cycle. That means you'll find a firm surface crust in the morning before softening occurs throughout the day. Elsewhere, you'll encounter a mix of weak faceted snow, wind-press, firm icy crusts, and breakable crust. Under tree cover, challenging travel conditions still exist due to irregular frozen surfaces.

All that is expected to change as snow returns later this week. So if you're out and about in one of your favorite locations, start paying attention to the distribution and location of weak surface snow now. It may prove useful in the coming days. And it is certainly useful information for us, so please submit an observation to let us know what you're seeing, and where.

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