Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Tricky conditions with underlying, deeper wet snow avalanche concerns exist, now coated by a new layer of snow. Human-triggered storm snow avalanches are likely, especially as you gain elevation and the new layer gets deeper, so avoid all steep slopes. Stick to simple, sheltered terrain and avoid travel beneath cornices, glide cracks, or other large snow deposits on steep rock slabs. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Heavy snow and wind in the last 48 hours will build fresh slabs that could be several feet thick up high. At first, snow predominantly fell at upper elevations, but as temperatures drop Monday night, we'll even see snow at lower elevations. We're not sure if there will be enough new snow down low for dry slab avalanches to result there. As you climb higher, snow depths will grow and avalanche size and danger will increase.

    Stormy weather and poor visibility may make it tough to assess stability. You're most likely to trigger a slab in wind-loaded terrain, but any steep slope with more than about 6 inches of new snow should be considered suspect. Use hand shears or test slopes to find strong-over-weak layering and assess reactivity. When in doubt, stick to sheltered, lower-angle slopes. If you notice any natural avalanches, avoid travel beneath large slopes as well. 

    (3/17/2025) Triggering storm slab avalanches in the Hwy 2 corridor a few weeks back. Similar conditions may exist on Tuesday, but avalanches may also be larger, especially as you gain elevation. Photo: Irene Henninger

  • Glide Cracks

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

    There may be well over a foot of snow at upper elevations, but we saw glide cracks and avalanches in many places before this storm entered the picture on Monday, and we don't expect deeper wet avalanche activity to slow down just yet at any elevation.

    Glide cracks and other unstable snow features on cliffs or unsupported slopes could turn into large slab avalanches. Cornices continue to weaken and remain a concern. Stay out from beneath glide cracks, snowy cliff faces, and corniced ridgelines. 

    Increasing temperatures during the day mean that wet, loose avalanches could also run in the new snow surface layers. 

    (4/6/2025)

    Glide cracks could unexpectedly release, resulting in large, unsurvivable avalanches if you're caught out below them. 

    Photo: Derrick

Avalanche Discussion

Now that it's spring, there's more people venturing into the West Central zone. Over the weekend, I traveled into the Monte Cristo area (observation), and others were around Snowking (observation, observation). We all observed the same thing: there were an abundance of glide cracks and glide avalanches, large sagging cornices, and an abundance of wet snow. 

Large natural avalanches were reported in the neighboring West North zone on Monday, where precipitation amounts were most similar to what we received in the West Central zone. It was probably a mix of wet snow avalanches from the mid-elevation band, but there were likely dry snow avalanches from upper elevations as well.

Snow and avalanche conditions are wildly unpredictable right now.  The fickle spring weather is performing at its best, and information is very limited. 

With this unusual combination of wet and dry avalanche problems with potentially large amounts of snow and rain continuing on Tuesday, be sure to travel cautiously in the backcountry.  The best advice? Stick to sheltered terrain with minimal overhead exposure while the storm plays out and temperatures cool off.

Regions covered