Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

You may see blowing snow or find a fresh shallow drift, but these thin wind pockets shouldn’t pose too much danger on their own. However, if you’re traveling in very steep or rocky terrain, these tiny slabs could still take you for a nasty and unforgiving ride if they knock you off your feet.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You may see signs of wind-transported snow, but any real wind slabs should be few and far between. If you poke around some of the higher terrain or in very steep, rocky areas, you might find a small wind-stiffened pocket. Even if these slabs are tiny, with so many rocks and trees to hit, any avalanche could be unforgiving. 

    Before stepping onto more consequential slopes, look for pillow-like slabs or textured surfaces. If you see them, consider the consequences of getting knocked over. Even if the avalanche isn’t particularly dangerous, the terrain still can be.

    (11/25/2024) A small skier triggered wind slab from earlier in the week. 

Avalanche Discussion

It’s been five days since our last major snowfall and 4 since the last reported avalanche in the West South zone. On Thursday sunshine and warm temperatures helped the snowpack continue to heal. Many weather stations recorded 2 to 3 inches (5-8cm) of settlement. While there’s still plenty of soft snow in shaded, sheltered terrain, we don’t think there are many lingering avalanche issues. At most, you might see one of those isolated wind slabs or maybe a tiny loose slide releasing from a very steep sunny slope. 

On Thursday, an avalanche professional traveling in the Crystal backcountry noted variable conditions with wind-affected surfaces, soft powder, moist snow, and even a few rollerballs. Crystal Mountain ski patrol, on Wednesday, used explosives to test some of their unopened terrain with no results. These recent observations add to our very limited data set to suggest the current snowpack is relatively strong and stable. But, there are still lots of unknowns out there. 

Stormy weather for much of the month brought us a robust early-season snowpack. For November that is… Snow depths range from 2-6 feet (60-200cm). While that’s great, plenty of early-season obstacles still exist. Open creeks, trees, bushes, logs, and rocks all make travel more challenging and potentially hazardous. Give yourself extra time to deal with these early-season conditions.

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