Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Be ready for a massive transition back to winter. Avalanche danger will increase as more snow falls, with over a foot in the forecast, and strong winds redistributing the snow as well. Natural avalanches are likely and human-triggered avalanches are very likely, so don't end up getting killed in a late-season avalanche: steer around all avalanche terrain, which includes where avalanches start, run, and stop. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–2.5

    Time to wake up from your spring mindset: It's going to be cold, actively powing, and blowing all day Tuesday. We likely won't start out with High danger, but as new snow depths grow, expect danger to rise. Early in the day, you may be able to travel through most terrain. But don't forget to rein it in as more snow falls. When there's about six inches of wind-affected snow, shift your travels away from steep slopes. As snow starts nearing a foot, stay out of all avalanche terrain, which includes flat and lower-angle slopes beneath large, steep paths. 

    At mid and lower elevations, we suspect that the new snow may be sticking well to the underlying spring snow, which could still be moist. Up high, the story could be very different, and as the new layer thickens, it could easily slide over a firm underlying crust. Large avalanches, both natural and human-triggered that could easily kill you, are expected. 

    Avalanches will be larger and more reactive in areas with wind loading, but as you gain elevation, even non wind-loaded areas could have large, natural avalanches. If we don't get nearly as much snow as the forecast suggests, danger may not be as great. Likewise, other areas in the zone may not receive as much snow as locations around Baker, and danger may be lower. When in doubt, today's the day to stick to lower-angle terrain, staying away from all avalanche terrain. 

    Example photo: This isn't a good day to test your luck- stick to conservative terrain, as large, human triggered avalanches that can kill you, like this one, are likely. 

Avalanche Discussion

At lower elevations, aside from portions just above the Heather Meadows parking lot, there isn't much snow base or smooth, continuous snow. Although we still expect avalanches, they probably won't be as large or quite as reactive. There may even be some moist snow down there, and a few rollerballs happening here. 

Forecasts called for a couple tenths of an inch of water (1-2 inches of snow) Sunday night, but instead the Heather Meadows weather station received .6 inches of water in a few short hours in the evening. This likely translated to 6 inches of snow at higher elevations, which will be sitting beneath any additional incoming snow. We expect there was less snow Sunday night in other areas of the zone. 

In all areas aside from upper elevation north-facing terrain, most of the snowpack consists of moist large melt forms. A more winterlike snowpack, with distinct layering, exists on upper elevation north slopes. Old glide cracks and other holes exist due to extensive recent warming, and will now be buried. Beware these hidden hazards. 

Regions covered