Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanches in wind-drifted snow are a lingering concern on upper elevation slopes greater than 35 degrees. Pay attention to changes in snow surface texture and hardness with aspect and elevation. Seek out wind-sheltered or low-angle terrain to reduce your risk.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Even though snowfall will end Friday, winds will continue to redistribute cold snow, thickening existing slabs and building fresh drifts.  You will easily be able to find wind slabs on exposed features and along ridgelines. You could also trigger them in gullies, on convex rollovers, or at the base of cliffs. With recent shifting winds, you may find atypical loading patterns with wind slabs in areas you don't normally expect. Look for clues like blowing snow, textured surfaces, and small drifts to help identify which features you want to steer around.

    (12/13/2021)

    Sharp cornices and smooth snow pillows indicate wind loading on this slope. East Peak, Crystal backcountry. 

    Photo: Robin Pendry

Avalanche Discussion

Observers in the Crystal backcountry on Thursday reported strong and variable winds with fresh loading on a variety of features throughout the terrain. Plenty of cold snow remains available for transport. With improving visibility and chances for sunshine Friday, use caution if you venture into the alpine where you will likely find the thickest and most reactive slabs. Expect changing conditions with rising avalanche danger Saturday with the arrival of a warm, wet storm.

Access into the mountains increased dramatically over the past week with ongoing snowfall. Before you step out into larger and less forgiving terrain, consider using small low consequence slopes to gather information and confirm the forecast. Even though it suddenly feels like winter, it’s still early season, and we have limited information about the snowpack across this very large zone. 

Storms over the past week resulted in several natural and triggered avalanches including a fatal accident. The last large avalanches were reported on Sunday 12/12. More recent observations continue to find a generally right-side-up snowpack comprised mostly of storm snow layers. One older layer we have our eye on is a thin crust (12/8) about 4-6in above the icy block at the bottom of the snow (Late November crust). Inconsistent test results and a variable distribution around the zone, make this layer hard to nail down. So far, we have not confirmed any avalanches failed at this interface.

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