Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You should find minimal avalanche hazard and potentially difficult travel conditions in most areas of the zone on a sunny Saturday. The Mt. Rainier area may be capable of heightened avalanche hazard if the sun is able to warm recently fallen snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    After receiving around 5” of new snow at Paradise on Thursday, we had thought that the sun could possibly destabilize this snow on Friday, causing a few Wet Loose avalanches. Well, the sun never made it out at Paradise on Friday, meaning those Wet Loose avalanches never had a chance to come to fruition. Across the street in the Crystal backcountry, there were some sun breaks and observations from the field on Friday noted some rollerball activity on solar slopes. There wasn’t enough new snow in this area to really call these avalanches, but if we apply that observation to Paradise, we suspect that a few avalanches are possible once the sun gets to the new snow. 

    Any Wet Loose avalanche on Saturday should be small and found on steep slopes that receive direct sunlight. Look for these avalanches to start at a point, such as near rocks or trees, and then fan out as they run downhill. If you notice that the snow surface is getting wet and sticky from the sun, or notice indicators of these avalanches such as rollerballs and pinwheels, head for shadier slopes, staying aware of sun-exposed slopes above you.

    (1/19/2021) A recent loose wet avalanche was observed in the Van Trump area of Mt Rainier due to solar input. This slide may have occurred Jan 18th. Similar slides may occur on the volcanoes on Saturday.

Avalanche Discussion

It should be another gorgeous day in the mountains on Saturday, with generally safe avalanche conditions in most areas of the zone. As noted above, we are specifically calling out Mt. Rainier as an area of the zone where you could potentially find locally higher avalanche danger. You should start to think about elevated hazard if you start to see Wet Loose activity during your travels or find that the snow is wet and deeper than a few inches. Although it may not increase the hazard level, keep slopes on the other side of the compass that don’t see the sun on your radar as well. They should continue to hold onto cold dry snow which could run fast and far on previously firm icy slopes. 

Speaking of your travels, if you decide to take advantage of the generally low hazard and nice weather to explore new terrain or visit one of your go-to spots, you need to continue to keep travel hazards on your radar. The recent snow fell on a firm and icy surface in many areas of the zone and is not expected to be well bonded. In some cases, surfaces that were easily identifiable as slippery and dangerous just a few days ago may now be hidden under a dusting of snow. Travel with caution and bring the right tools to help you navigate these hazards. Getting tripped up by variable conditions or a small pocket of unstable snow could yield unfavorable results if you are traveling in consequential terrain.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.

Regions covered