Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Loose wet avalanches are possible during periods of sun and warming. Move off and away from steep and sunny slopes if you see fresh rollerballs or other signs of wet avalanche activity. Use extra caution in very steep, wind-loaded terrain that could still hold fresh slabs of wind-drifted snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Sun-exposed slopes saw significant warming this week, producing widespread rollerballs and pinwheels, but only a handful of small wet avalanches were reported. Intermittent cloud cover seemed to help keep wet avalanche activity in check even on the warmest and sunniest days. 

    After two solid days of settlement and the start of a downtrend in temperature, the likelihood of wet avalanches should ease slightly on Wednesday. That said, this problem hasn’t gone away and remains worth keeping on your radar until things cool off more decisively. 

    Look for loose wet avalanches initiating in steep, rocky, treed, or cliffy terrain as the day warms. They should mostly release on sunny slopes, but some low- and mid-elevation shaded slopes may also warm up enough. Fresh rollerballs, pinwheels, or moist surface snow are the first signs that wet avalanche activity is increasing.

    Example photo: Rollerballs initiating from trees and other steep, rocky areas. These are indicators that more wet avalanche activity could follow. 

Avalanche Discussion

Stiff, triggerable wind slabs may still exist in steep, upper-elevation features. Use caution when transitioning into wind-exposed areas, especially steep, high-consequence alpine terrain.

An observer in the Baker Backcountry reported a handful of fresh loose wet avalanches on the steepest sun-exposed slopes below rocks and trees. All observed avalanches were small. Most mid-elevation shaded slopes have remained cold and dry, while rollerballs and wet snow have been found on low-elevation shaded slopes. Overall, northerly slopes have remained cold but have settled significantly.

Snowpack observations indicate that the December 24 crust is found anywhere from the snow surface to about 16 inches deep. Overall, warming, settlement, and time appear to be gradually strengthening the snowpack, but surface conditions remain sensitive to sun and temperature. A few glide cracks have begun to open and are also key signs of warming.

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