Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

As snowfall amounts increase so will avalanche danger. When you notice more than about 6 inches of fresh snow, travel more conservatively and avoid all slopes greater than 35 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day as snow continues to fall. Precipitation intensity peaks just before midday, when it’s a good time to start dialing back your exposure to avalanche terrain more. Pay attention as snowfall amounts increase, and observe how the new snow is bonding to the layer beneath.  Slabs may be more reactive in wind drifted areas.Avoid slopes steeper than 35 degrees as the danger rises. 

    Several natural and human triggered avalanche observations have come in since Saturday. Many of the avalanches were shallow, but a couple were two or more feet deep, reaching near the depth of the 3/18 interface, around 3 feet down. On Tuesday a snowboarder triggered a slab avalanche about 3 feet deep and managed to ride out of it. You can read his report HERE. Check out the media strip below for more recent avalanches photos.  Most of these storm interfaces are healing quickly, but it is possible that an avalanche could step down into one of the underlying layers, becoming much larger than what the most recent snowfall could produce. 

    (3/23/2021) A natural slab avalanche which probably failed Tuesday on the new/old snow interface from the 3/21-22 storm about 10 inches deep in the Canyon Creek area.

Avalanche Discussion

Observers in both the Glacier Creek area and Baker backcountry found widespread surface hoar at elevations above 4000ft on Tuesday. If it stays preserved beneath the snow that falls Wednesday, avalanche hazard will increase significantly. Buried surface hoar could remain on some surfaces and not others, so investigate for its presence in areas that you travel. 

An unfortunate fatality occurred in the Sierras on Saturday when a snowmobiler stepped too close to the edge of a cornice and it broke on them. You can read the report HERE. Stay far away from the edge of cornices and the slopes beneath them as they continue to grow larger. Glide cracks are also widening, and despite cooler temperatures, exercise caution by avoiding or limiting your time beneath them. Glide avalanche problems tend to waken in the spring with generally warmer temperatures. 

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.

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