Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Unsettled weather with new snow and wind will raise avalanche danger during the day. Travel in lower-angle, sheltered terrain and expect limited visibility at times. Early-season hazards—including rocks, downed trees, and open creeks—are still widespread.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    With 1-2 feet of new snow in the last few days - and more on the way overnight and Saturday - expect a variety of avalanche problems, including wind slabs, loose dry, and even small slabs in sheltered terrain. You are most likely to trigger an avalanche in wind loaded areas. Still, you could see more storm slab-like activity during periods of higher snowfall and slowly rising afternoon temperatures.

    Use the crust beneath the new snow to track changes in new snow and wind slab depth as you climb higher or switch aspects. Test slopes and hand pits can provide information about the bond of new snow layers. Shooting cracks and recent avalanches are telltale signs that you will probably trigger an avalanche if you venture into steep terrain. 

    (3/27/2024)

    Stay on the lookout for slab avalanches in sheltered terrain in addition to wind-loaded areas.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

On-the-ground observations remain sparse due to shallow snow cover and access challenges from recent washouts and landslides. Be prepared to assess the actual avalanche danger for yourself as you climb into snow-covered terrain. Variations in precipitation and new snow totals, snow on the ground, and temperatures can result in markedly different conditions within a single forecast zone.

Early-season hazards such as exposed or partially covered rocks, downed trees, and open creeks are still out there and will be for some time. Getting caught in even a small avalanche can have serious consequences with rugged terrain in the runout below.

The snowpack structure beneath the most recent snowfall includes a mix of crusts, moist, rounded grains, and large-grained melt forms. In many areas, 1–3 feet of snow sits over mid-December crust layers. Most low-elevation terrain still has too little snow to produce avalanches, but this is starting to change as you climb up to 4000'.

An observer on the north side of Mt. Baker in West North reported active wind transport and touchy wind slabs at middle and upper elevations. The most notable finding was a poor bond between the top 12 inches of new snow and an underlying crust. This crust likely formed during warmer temperatures on Thursday night, before cooling and renewed snowfall deposited more snow on top of it. No obsevations have

The weather over the past few weeks has been extraordinary, with torrential rains, extreme winds, flooding, and landslides. Many communities are dealing with damage to homes, infrastructure, and businesses, stretching resources thin. These events have limited access to the mountains for all of us. State and local resources are working diligently to reduce the worst of these impacts. We can help by being respectful of local communities, obeying road closures, and heeding ski area uphill travel policies.

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