Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Avalanche danger should be minimal other than in wind-exposed terrain. Steer around steep, consequential slopes you think hold more than a few inches of wind-drifted snow. Low snow cover, crusty surfaces, and old avalanche debris are the greatest hazards you will deal with in sheltered terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    If you were to find an avalanche on Wednesday, it would be in wind-loaded terrain at upper elevations. The weather forecast is only calling for a few inches of new snow and lower wind speeds, but more of either weather input would bump up avalanche danger. 

    Look for deeper drifts as you gain elevation. If you find more than a few inches of wind-drifted snow, use small slope tests and hand pits to gauge reactivity. Take your time moving into steep terrain that might hold a pocket of wind slab.

     

    (3/8/2023)

    Example of smooth wind slab on the left and scoured snow on the right.

Avalanche Discussion

Observers in adjacent zones found little in the way of wind slab on Tuesday. A few wind-loaded features would crack and shed small blocks when kicked, but slab formation was too isolated to be a problem. Part of the reason is wind speeds were lower than forecast on Tuesday. There also isn’t much snow available for transport on windward slopes. Many were previously stripped of loose snow or capped with a sun crust that kept loose snow below it locked down. Locations farther east in the zone or upper elevations may hold larger, more meaningful slabs, but there were no observations on Jan 1st or 2nd from those areas. Be ready to choose your own adventure if heading to less traveled terrain.

Only a few avalanches were reported from neighboring zones in the last week. Most were wet avalanches from late in December. On New Year's Day, a person below Chair Peak was caught and carried a short distance after triggering a small wind slab.  Strong winds and wind-transported snow were also observed on Ptarmigan Ridge in the Baker Backcountry the same day. 

 

Regions covered