Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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 will mostly be confined to wind-loaded terrain on Thursday. Peak winds should coincide with snowfall Wednesday night into Thursday before precipitation tapers. Expect to find the highest potential for avalanches in the morning hours. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snowfall and strong east winds could form fresh slabs on leeward ridgelines, convexities, or near rocky terrain. Easterly winds often result in more cross-loading and mid-slope loading than you might be used to. They also load different aspects than our typical storms. Look for actively blowing snow, fresh cornices, or new drifts to identify wind-loaded features to avoid. Using small test slopes or uptrack tests as you travel can give you insight into how the new snow is reacting to your weight as a traveler.

    Weak snow was reported on or near the surface in nearby zones. If it is buried intact, slabs could break widely or in surprising ways.

    (2/14/2024)

    Mt Index- Small amounts of flagging were visible up top. In this photo it's tough to tell whether it's flagging or cloud behind the peak. 

Avalanche Discussion

A shot of new snow accompanied by another day of moderate easterly winds should result in a fresh crop of wind slabs on Thursday. New snow will be falling on a variety of surfaces, most of which are some variation of temperature crust. The exception is on shaded and wind-sheltered slopes where you could still find well-settled dry snow from Monday’s storm. On Wednesday, NWAC forecasters noticed blowing snow on ridgelines in the Highway 2 corridor. Other neighboring zones had minimal new avalanches to report. 

Moving forward, you will most likely encounter an avalanche in wind-loaded terrain. The only exception is where lingering weak layers are still in play. Observers at mid-elevations have found that the storm layers are generally bonding well, and faceted snow doesn’t seem to be an issue. But it's a big zone, so that may not be the case everywhere. Areas that experienced cooler temperatures and/or less wind during the last storm might have slightly weaker layering.

On Wednesday, NWAC forecasters at Stevens Pass found weak facets above the Early February Crust (EFC) along with widespread weak surfaces. A similar structure has been reported at Snoqualmie Pass. It would be prudent to check all of the snow over the EFC before committing to terrain.

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