Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

New snow and wind drifting may create avalanche danger on steep, wind-exposed slopes near and above treeline. Stay alert during the stormy conditions, looking for signs of wind drifting and instabilities as you gain elevation. You may find easily triggered, shallow wind slabs on upper elevation, lee slopes by the afternoon.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Snowfall and strong wind will create wind slab danger on steep, wind exposed slopes near and above treeline. You could find these on the lee side of ridgelines and below cliffs bands where spindrifts deposit recent snowfall. Look for signs of instability such as shooting cracks, and stiffer textured snow over weaker snow. Active wind loading and snow plumes off ridges are also good indicators that wind slabs can be found. Feel for textured wind-affected snow as you change aspect and elevation. For the most part, avalanche activity should be confined to the new snow, but could be deeper in the western part of the zone where more snow is expected to fall.

    Cornices could fall naturally during the day with snowfall and wind, so be sure to stay well out from underneath any potential cornice runout zones. If traveling along ridgelines with large cornices make sure to stay well back from the edge. Travelers are surprised every season when cornices break further back than they expect. Loose dry avalanches are possible on very steep slopes in northerly or shaded terrain. Don't let small sluffs catch you by surprise in or around terrain traps.   

    (3/22/2021) Small wind slab release on a test slope. Notice the rippled texture to the snow surface.

Avalanche Discussion

Around 2-4" of snow may fall through the day on Wednesday with moderate westerly winds that will be strong enough to drift the new snow around. This builds on around 5" of snow received earlier in the week. New snow will be falling on a newly buried sun crust on all aspects but north. On northerly and shaded aspects, observers were still reporting cold dry snow above about 6500' in elevation.  Below 5500', there is minimal recent snow above the surface crust. 

Since the beginning of March, the region has undergone a slow warming trend. Observers have reported loose avalanches (both wet and dry) and falling cornices.  Cornices are very large and still loom on many ridges.  Most of the observations of cornice fall came early in the month, but we continue to receive occasional reports. The mid-January weak layer that plagued most of the Cascades for the month of February was much less of a factor near Washington Pass.

Regions covered