Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Look for signs of wind transport as you gain elevation into wind-exposed terrain.  Navigate around steep slopes where you identify slabs of recently wind-drifted snow by choosing lower angled, more planar terrain. Minimal snow cover is still found at lower elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    In some parts of West South there was probably enough new snow to drift into fresh slabs at mid and upper elevations. Pay attention to the pattern of wind loading using scoured snow surfaces, cornice-like features, and changes in snow texture to figure out where wind slabs lurk.  You are most likely to find them on leeward slopes just below ridgeline.

    You can track the depth of new and wind-drifted snow over the wet, crusty snow below. This can help you identify areas holding deeper snow and wind slabs as you gain elevation and switch aspects.Use small test slopes to get a read on how the new snow is reacting to your weight. Small hand pits can show how well slabs are bonded to moist snow or crust layers below.

     

    (2/1/2022)

    Using visual clues can help you identify wind-loaded slopes.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

Temperatures should stay below freezing, but southerly aspects could see some sun warm the new snow. Pay attention to slopes overhead and look for initial signs of instability like snow shedding from trees and rocks, pinwheels or balls of snow rolling down the slope.

Observations from West South indicated there is a good bond between the old, moist surface and the new snow that accumulated above.  Poorer bonding could be found where the new snow fell on a hard, frozen crust, but any slab avalanches that are triggered should release within the new snow layers.  

The latest "storm" favored the northern zones so most parts of the West South picked up only 2-4" of new snow. Slightly higher amounts were recorded at Paradise (5" from 0.42" of precipitation)  and also on St. Helens where the Swift Creek Snotel recorded 0.7" of precipitation. While winds were plenty strong enough to drift the new snow in exposed locations, no wind slab avalanches or signs of instability were reported.

The new snow will just barely conceal a number of creek holes, rocks and even patches of bare ground that melted out in previous days. Old avalanche debris should also be on the checklist of non-avalanche hazards.

If you make it into the backcountry please send us an observation! Thank you to the folks who submitted two new obs today!

Regions covered