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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Above-freezing temperatures may tip the scales Sunday and create wet snow on steep southerly slopes. Seek out shaded or frozen terrain if you sink past your ankle. Variable snow surfaces and plenty of obstacles continue to make even simple travel spicy.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Any wet avalanche concerns should be isolated to steep rocky slopes receiving direct sunshine. These are the spots where several days of warm temperatures and a weak mid-winter sun will have the greatest impact. 

    You might push a small wet loose avalanche on slopes where the overnight crust fully breaks down. Track this throughout the day by stepping off your board, machine, or snowshoes and seeing how deep you sink. When you find wet snow deeper than your ankle, it’s time to change slopes. Even a tiny wet slide could drag you into rocks or over a cliff.

    The other possible wet avalanche issue comes from blobs of snow falling off craggy faces. These blocks of snow could release with little or no warning. Don’t hang out below areas where you see patches of snow still hanging onto rocky slopes.

    (3/24/2022)

    Take a moment to step off your mode of travel to see how deeply you are plunging into the snow. If you are sinking in past your ankle, start to think about wet avalanches. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Temperatures have stayed above freezing for at least three days at Middle and Upper Elevations. The saving grace has been the long, clear December nights that allow the snow surface to freeze despite the warm weather. Any crust will need to fully break down before you see wet avalanche hazards develop. 

Sunday, however, temperatures will ratchet up another notch, and this time with more sun and less wind. We don’t expect to reach some big breaking point, but you could experience the most dangerous conditions in several days. 

A good rule of thumb will probably be, if it’s frozen, it's safer; if it’s wet, look for other places to go. 

Travel conditions remain a big focus, and it’s not all bad news. You might find smoother snow on higher-elevation shaded slopes, in places the sun softens the surface, and on well-packed trails. Elsewhere, it’s not as pretty. Breakable crusts, icy slopes, punchy snow, frozen avalanche debris, and irregular rain runnels have all been reported. Then there are the travel hazards: flowing creeks, open holes, downed logs, exposed rocks, shrubs, trees, etc. This combination of conditions and early-season obstacles can make any route adventurous. 

If you’re using the nice weather to head higher than our forecast area (~8000ft), keep your eye out for very firm icy conditions and possibly small pockets of wind-drifted snow. Observers on Mt Hood reported these conditions over the past few days. 

Regions covered