Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You could find and trigger small wind drifted pockets of snow on steep above treeline terrain Saturday. Your main concern is if you were caught in an avalanche that might push you into a gully, send you off a cliff, or into trees. Late on Sunday, snowfall will intensify and we'll get a couple feet or more by Tuesday night. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Small, isolated wind slabs may exist on above treeline slopes on Saturday. A couple small storms since Wednesday amounted to 6-10 inches at upper elevations, and we'll receive a couple inches more snow Friday night and Saturday.  Light to moderate winds could redistribute the low-density snow into small slabs which may react to a human trigger. Search for thicker pockets around rocky outcroppings, in gullies, or on leeward slopes on steep features. Avalanches in these drifts probably wouldn't be large enough to bury you if you triggered one, but if you're near a terrain trap they could still cause harm. 

    Small wind slabs that could break at your feet, similar to what you might see on Saturday at upper elevations.

    Photo: Adam Ü

Avalanche Discussion

A deep persistent slab avalanche concern previously listed as a problem is remaining on our radar. We don't expect that a human could trigger an avalanche on the layer, located on upper elevation northerly aspects.  There's a chance that a large cornice falling on it, or another avalanche, could trigger this layer buried 4-8 feet down, which would result in a very large avalanche.  For now, remain aware of the problem, and consider not lingering for long periods on or beneath large slopes where it may exist, especially if large overhead cornices are present.

A much larger frontal system approaches Saturday night. By its conclusion on Tuesday, we could see two or more feet of snow in the West Central Zone, although a fair bit of uncertainty currently exists in regards to how much snow we'll end up with. Prepare for a period of elevated avalanche danger as winter reminds us it's not yet done. 

Regions covered