Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day as more snow falls, temperatures increase, and it gets windier. Human-triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible, so stick to lower-angle terrain during your outing on Thursday. If you see any natural avalanches, steer around the bottom of large steep slopes, too. 

 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    It's likely that you could trigger a large avalanche that could kill or seriously harm you on Thursday. Rising temperatures, increasing winds, and continued snowfall will make the snowpack more dangerous as the day goes on. Natural avalanches are possible. Avalanches will be larger and more reactive in wind-drifted areas. However, increasing temperatures will create heavier snow over lighter snow on non wind-loaded slopes, so even those will be unstable. 

    Identify an upside-down snowpack by feeling for a denser surface over softer snow beneath, whether on skis, a board, on foot, or with poles. There may be a crust below the last few days' snow that newer layers could slide easily on. Pay close attention to red flags like shooting cracks, whumphing, or recent avalanches—clear signs to stick to lower-angle terrain. Even without obvious clues, this is not a day to push into steep, high-consequence backcountry terrain.

    Example photo: Human-triggered avalanches like this are LIKELY on Thursday. 

  • Loose Wet

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

    As freezing levels rise in the afternoon, rollerballs and wet loose avalanches will increase in frequency and gradually climb in elevation. These problems will mainly affect lower elevations, but could reach mid elevations as conditions change through the day.

    Continuously monitor the snow surface for signs of warming. Moist, clumpy snow, increasing tree bombs, or the appearance of rollerballs on steep slopes are clear cues to avoid similar terrain and steer toward lower-angle options.

    Example photo: Wet loose avalanches are expected at lower elevations, most commonly initiating from rocks and in gullies. 

Avalanche Discussion

We'll receive around a foot of snow during the day on Thursday. This snowfall amount may be more accurate for the Baker backcountry, where danger could reach High by the end of the day. We'll probably get a little less snow in other locations around the zone. 

We haven't had much of a reprieve from the wild weather lately, so if you do manage to get out, be sure to closely evaluate the snowpack as you travel. Conditions will change slope to slope and as you gain elevation. There is significantly more snow- and differences in the layers- as you make your way towards the upper elevation band. 

WSDOT is expecting to open SR 542 to Heather Meadows very soon. Snowlines are dropping, allowing us better access to other backcountry locations as well. This is very exciting, but due to the damaging effects of recent storms, information is very limited. The season is just beginning, and we still have the whole winter ahead of us. Ease into the backcountry, choosing gentler terrain until we have a better handle on conditions and a longer break from storms. 

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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