Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Strong winds and fresh snow could build unstable slabs on downwind slopes. Navigate around steep terrain collecting wind-drifted snow by using lower-angled features. Pay attention to changing conditions and steer towards sheltered terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Fresh wind slabs could form with an increase in wind speeds overnight and into Sunday. Locations that received only a few inches of new snow like Crystal and White Pass should see a minimal increase in avalanche danger. There just isn't enough snow available for transport. But higher elevations and parts of the zone like Rainier and St. Helens - areas that saw deeper new snow - could have legitimate wind slabs by midday.  The more new snow you find in sheltered terrain, the more wind slab you will find as you gain elevation.

    Blowing and drifting snow will point the way toward the slopes where you are most likely to trigger a fresh wind slab. An increase in snow stiffness and scoured surfaces will also help identify slopes holding fresh slabs The best policy will be to simply steer around steep slopes where you observe active wind loading.

    (2/2/2021)

    Look for active wind loading along ridgelines.

    Photo: Shane Robinson

Avalanche Discussion

It was a quiet day with sunshine, cold temps, mostly light winds, and some new snow.  While south aspects picked up plenty of sun, no signs of instability or wet avalanches were reported.  The only reported natural avalanche from the latest storm was in very steep, east-facing terrain on the far side of the Nisqually Glacier.

An NWAC Forecaster on the south side of Adams found upper elevation terrain completely hammered with many windward ridgelines scoured down to rock. Stiff, unreactive wind slab was found pretty much everywhere else, but mid-elevation sheltered terrain held good riding conditions.  An observer above Paradise reported widespread dense, unreactive wind slab 4-8" deep. Test slopes and other testing produced no results.

The new snow just barely conceals a number of creek holes, rocks, and even patches of bare ground that melted out in previous days. Old avalanche debris should also be on the checklist of non-avalanche hazards.

If you make it into the backcountry please send us an observation! Thank you to the folks who submitted two new obs today!

Regions covered