Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You could find a number of different avalanche problems, mainly on the small side but possibly dangerous if you're in high-consequence terrain. Wind-drifted snow could avalanche with a human trigger higher up, and if there are any sun breaks, wet avalanches may run in the surface layer. Slow and steady snowfall will continue, totaling around 3 inches by the end of the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Snow will slowly continue to stack up, and light to moderate winds may shift snow around. Wind slabs will predominantly develop at upper elevations, but you may find them at mid elevations as well. Drifts may be a foot or deeper. If you're in a scoured spot or one with only a few inches of snow over a crust, minimal danger exists. 

     Wind slabs could develop around features, in gullies, and along ridegelines. Blowing and drifting snow can show you where slabs could be developing. If wind isn't actively blowing, search for signs of its effect like scoured snow surfaces and freshly wind-drifted snow features like mini cornices or thicker "pillows" of snow. 

    Even if drifts are small, if you're in high-consequence terrain and trigger an avalanche you could be taken for a dangerous ride. These areas, with terrain traps such as a cliff, gully, or thick trees and rocks beneath a steep slope are places to think twice about traveling onto if you have any reason to believe a slope may slide. 

    (3/13/2024)

    Visual  clues help highlight where wind slabs may occur.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

If the sun pops out or temperatures warm a little more than anticipated, wet loose avalanches may run on steep slopes in the top few inches of previously dry, light fluffy snow. It's also not completely out of the question, although unlikely, that large, spring shed-style avalanches may occur- most likely with a cornice failing, or a glide avalanche spontaneously running. As a good spring habit, give slopes beneath these features a wide berth. 

 Throughout the zone, a variable 3-8 inches or so exists above our most recent crust. This crust may be supportable in some areas, and in other spots you may be able to punch through it with your feet into a moist, loose underlying layer. Springlike indicators are present in many places, with a rapidly shrinking snowpack at lower elevations and holes opening up in the snow around creeks, rocks, and trees. 

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