Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

An increase in wind and a small amount of snow falling throughout the day means we'll see a slight bump in avalanche activity. Expect increasing danger as the day progresses. Search for newly formed pillowlike or textured snow drifts, firmer than non wind-affected snow, and avoid them on steep slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs will grow throught the day tomorrow as more snow falls and wind redistributes the snow into drifts. We're only expecting 2-3 inches of snow by the end of the day, so drifts probably won't grow much deeper than 6 inches at mid and upper elevations by the end of the day. 

    Search for new wind slabs by identifying actively blowing snow and seeing where it lands. Feel for stiffer deposits beneath you, and use obvious clues such as long, shooting cracks happening from your weight on the snow. If these drifts are more than a couple inches deep, it's time to start avoiding them on slopes steeper than 35°. 

    We expect lower elevations to have less snow, be heavier from the warmer temperatures and less wind-affected. Near the top of the lower elevation band you might start encountering conditions more similar to the mid elevation band. 

    Example photo: It's possible you could trigger shallow wind slabs on steep mid and upper elevation slopes, similar to these ones that I triggered on small test slopes in the Mountain Loop Highway area a few years ago. 

Avalanche Discussion

Wednesday night was breezy, which likely redistributed snow into drifts at upper elevations. Over the previous days, sunlight and warm temperatures caused small amounts of wet avalanche activity on steep, south-facing slopes. You can expect breakable crusts on south-facing aspects on Friday, and firmer wind textured snow in other areas. We expect low density snow still exists in sheltered areas. 

Unsettled weather begins on Friday, before it ramps up for the weekend. If you make it out in the West Central zone, please share with us what you saw by SUBMITTING AN OBSERVATION. Information is very limited in the West Central zone, and any additional information would help our forecasts immensely. 

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