Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Slab avalanches in wind drifted snow still pose a risk to backcountry travelers near and above treeline. Use lower angle terrain to navigate around steep features where you are more likely to trigger an avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong winds and new snow over the weekend created unstable wind slabs above, near, and even in some below treeline areas. Specific terrain features like steep convex breakovers and hanging slopes above or around cliffs are the most suspect. Unstable wind slabs last longer in the vicinity of these trigger points. Getting caught in even a small avalanche in steep rocky or treed terrain can have high consequences.

    Look for prominent signs of wind transport like cornices, scoured ridgelines, and large pillowy drifts to help locate wind slabs. Pay attention to areas where your flotation of choice is staying closer to the snow surface on a dense supportable slab vs. moving through soft new snow. 

     

     

    Pillowy drifts? Check . . . Unstable wind slab?  Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Update Monday @ 8:50:  Observation from Canyon Creek indicating small snowmobile triggered avalanches in wind loaded terrain near treeline. 

A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred across the west slopes of the Cascades on Saturday sparked by 1-2' of new snow, rising freezing levels, and very strong winds. Excellent visibility on Sunday allowed for observations well up into the alpine with many natrural avalanches to D3 noted on all aspects. Some avalanches also ran well down into below treeline terrain as noted here. 

With clear skies and sun came observations of minor loose wet avalanche activity on southerly aspects. Similar terrain will likely sport a refrozen crust in the coming days. A new crop of surface hoar was noted on shady slopes.

On Monday expect cloudy skies and light winds. Stable weather the next 24 hours will have little impact on avalanche danger other than giving lingering, unstable slabs more time to gain strength

Regions covered