Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Dry snow avalanches remain possible, particularly on the volcanoes where storm totals are higher. You're more likely to trigger an avalanche in wind-loaded terrain like rocky chutes or convex slopes. Look for textured surfaces or new drifts to help identify features to avoid.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You could find wind slabs anywhere in the zone, but they'll likely be larger and possibly more reactive on the volcanoes. Look for actively blowing snow, fresh drifts, textured surfaces, or new cornices to determine where these unstable pockets may exist. You can feel for changes in the depth of snow over the crust to help identify wind-loaded features to avoid. They'll be more common on leeward ridgelines, on convex features, or near rocky outcrops such as the base of cliffs or confined chutes. 

    (4/4/2024)

    Small cornices on a ridgeline in the Tatoosh Range. Deeper pockets of wind-drifted snow existed on the slopes below.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

Saturday was relatively stormy in the West South zone. Most weather stations recorded a few inches of new snow and winds gusting into the moderate range. White Pass Pro Patrol reported the new snow was drifting around at upper elevations. In the neighboring Mt. Hood zone, wind slabs as much as 2 feet thick were reported. This storm track has really focused on the volcanoes, and that pattern should continue into Sunday. Similar conditions to those found on Hood may exist on Mount St. Helens, Adams, or Rainier.

All this talk of new snow and wind is very winter-like. Although the mountains are snowy, the snowpack has begun its transition to spring. Numerous melt-freeze crusts, strong rounded grains, and weaker moist grains comprise most of the upper snowpack below the new snow. All it takes is a few sun breaks or thin clouds for the latest snow to destabilize and wet avalanche concerns to emerge. If you see new rollerballs or the snow surface is moist, put wet slides on your radar and head for shadier slopes. We expect all avalanche activity to be confined to this week's snow, regardless of its moisture content. 

Lower elevations will likely have more travel hazards than avalanche potential. Although open holes/creeks, shallowly buried rocks, and refrozen avalanche debris are more prevalent down low, they litter the landscape at all elevations. Give yourself extra time and bring the tools required to travel safely.

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