Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A string of storms is on the way, starting overnight Wednesday and continuing into the weekend. Heavy snow and strong winds will ramp up avalanche danger. Stick to lower-angle, less challenging terrain to reduce the risk of triggering or being caught in an avalanche.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    West Central should see about a foot of new snow, with stormy conditions lasting into Thursday. New snow layers often bond quickly and show an increase in stability as the storm ends and the day goes on. But increasing winds ahead of the next storm could build another round of slabs and keep dangerous avalanche conditions in play till day's end.

    As usual, you are more likely to trigger a slab on wind loaded slopes, but there should be enough new snow that it would be wise to look for instability in more sheltered areas as well. On-the-fly stability tests like hand shears and test slopes should show the bond of new snow layers. When in doubt, stick to simple, lower-angle terrain.

    (3/11/2023)

    With the amount of snow in the forecast, you can find an avalanche in sheltered areas in addition to wind exposed locations.

    Photo: Pete Durr

Avalanche Discussion

Wednesday was a classic "day before the storm" with increasing winds but little in the way of fresh snowfall. Observers in West North reported wind scoured ridgelines and fresh wind slab formation on leeward slopes. Avalanche observations consisted of a few naturally triggered wind slabs on steep slopes below corniced ridgelines. Similar wind slab formation was noted from Snoqualmie Pass. 

Stability tests have shown weaker layers in the upper snowpack as gaining strength and becoming more resistant. The facet or facet-crust layers - one down 16-24” and the other 36-48” - produced minimal avalanche activity in the last week, but they are still on the radar. A much bigger load in the next 72 hours should give any lingering weakness one final test and possibly produce some very large avalanches in the stormy period ahead.

Regions covered