Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

The storm train just keeps coming and continues to build fresh batches of new slabs on a variety of steep open slopes. Even as the storm starts to die down, give the new snow time to heal. Unless it’s scoured, consider steering away from steep open slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Another 6-12 inches overnight? Sure we’ll take it! This adds to the recent totals, potentially bringing totals to 15-30 inches since Saturday. That’s a lot of snow starting to stack up. Shifting winds, fluctuating temperatures, and moments of sun could form a variety of weak layers in the storm snow. While the most obvious hazard will be in wind loaded terrain, all steep open slopes are suspect. 

    Make lots of hand pit, uptrack, and small slope tests to hunt for layers in the new snow. These observations will help with the most recent storm. However, you need to look at all the way down to the Solstice Crust. We can’t rule out slides failing at or just above this prominent layer. Ease into terrain by starting with slightly lower angle and lower consequence slopes to gather information. 

    Strong and gusty winds surely formed slabs in some unusual places. Watch out even well below ridgelines, along the sides of gullies, and even down in the trees for firmer deeper slabs. These areas could produce much larger and more dangerous avalanches.

    (12/23/2024)

    This shallow storm slab broke widely (300ft across) during avalanche mitigation at Crystal Mt. 

    Photo: Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Sure it’s just another storm and another possible 6-12 inches of snow. This "storm every 24 hrs" pattern is pretty great and can lead to more stable conditions as each round heals before the next load. It can also result in surprisingly big slides as we get lulled to sleep by the trickle of new snow. If anything makes this round different, it’s the gusty nature of the winds. That can result in more erratic and difficult to interpret loading patterns. 

Cooler temperatures should help limit any wet avalanche issues. However, you might still be able to push a small wet loose slide near the rain-snow line. Additionally, if sun breaks in the afternoon turn into real sunshine, you could see natural loose avalanches as snow sheds from rocks and trees. 

Observations from Monday often highlighted a potential weak layer a few inches above the prominent Solstice Crust. This was seen in Crystal Mt avalanche control and hand pits by backcountry travelers. The Solstice Crust is burly and generally represents a “new ground” for the zone. In some locations, you may find the new snow bonded well to this firm crust. In others, you might find that interface much weaker. This could be hard to tell just moving around on the surface and will more likely require a shovel.

Even with all the snow creeks remain a big issue. Travel at lower elevations still includes down logs, brush, rocks, and thin coverage. Expect a big of slow going if you’re traveling at lower elevations.

Regions covered