Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

A storm will deposit almost a foot of snow with moderate to strong wind on Saturday. It is likely that you can trigger a large avalanche that could kill you at all elevations. Avoid traveling on all steep slopes, and if you notice any natural avalanches or have any uncertainties about large, exposed slopes above you then consider avoiding areas where an avalanche from above would run down to. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Dangerous avalanche conditions will exist on Saturday. It's likely that you could trigger a large avalanche that could kill you, with snow and wind actively loading more snow throughout the day. You're most likely to trigger an avalanche, which will probably be larger, in a thicker wind-loaded pocket, but avalanches could happen on any steep slopes given the new snowfall amounts we'll be receiving. 

    This week was riddled with human-triggered slab avalanches and avalanche involvements, in the neighboring West North zone, where we believe conditions are most similar to the West Central zone. We only expect an uptick in avalanche activity for Saturday.

    Several storm layers stacked up this week, and there's a chance an avalanche could fail at any one of these older interfaces. For Saturday, plan on avoiding all slopes greater than 30°. If you notice natural avalanches or have any doubt, steer around lower-angle terrain beneath large avalanche paths, where an avalanche could run and stop, as well. 

    (3/14/2025)

    Large slab avalanches were easily triggered in the neighboring West North zone on Friday. Expect even spicier conditions on Saturday.  The avalanche ran about 400ft and crown depth was up to 35cm (14") deep, and reached about 50ft across. 

    Photo: Jere Burrell - Guided Ascents

Avalanche Discussion

The neighboring West North zone has a persistent weak layer avalanche problem, which sits just a few inches above the March 4 crust, about 2 feet deep. Surface hoar that formed last week was buried in that location. We are uncertain whether this layer exists in the West Central zone. If it does, you'll be able to find it on shady (northerly) slopes at mid and upper elevations, a few inches above the obvious uppermost crust in the snowpack. Consider avoiding steep slopes on the northerly half of the compass if you're in doubt or find weaknesses above the crust. 

Steep slopes on the southern half of the compass moistened and there was at least a little wet loose avalanche activity on Friday. Expect to find a thin crust on these slopes during your outing on Saturday, hidden beneath any new snow. 

If you make it into the backcountry, please share with us what you find by submitting an obervation HERE, or on the Avy App. 

Regions covered