Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger is Low where a solid crust exists. If the sun softens steep, south-facing terrain, there's a small chance that you could trigger an avalanche- especially on very steep terrain. Beware additional warm weather hazards like breaking cornices and snow blocks falling in steep, cliffy areas. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Peak wet avalanche activity likely occurred early this week, though prolonged wet snow has kept us on edge. A freeze Wednesday night probably helped stabilize most slopes.

    Warm temperatures and sunshine Friday will likely soften steep southerly aspects. While most snow has adjusted, human-triggered wet loose avalanches remain possible on sun-softened slopes, especially on slopes near or above 40°. Avalanches may be easier to trigger where snow is thin over smooth rock or on unsupported slopes above even steeper terrain.

    If you’re sinking several inches into mushy snow, avoid steep slopes and shift to shaded or lower-angle terrain. Use extra caution around terrain traps, where even small avalanches could have serious consequences.

    Example photo: If you enter steep terrain- especially if unsupported- you might be able to trigger a wet loose avalanche. 

Avalanche Discussion

The Gold Hill weather station near Darrington won the award for highest temperature of our monitored weather stations in the West Central zone on Thursday, peaking at 68°. Many zones reach the low 60's. Clear skies finally led to a suspected overnight freeze of snow surfaces Wednesday night.

Temperatures will slowly begin a downward trend on Friday, but there is one more day of predominantly sunny skies. We suspect surface freezing will continue, with softening on steep southerlies during the day.

Precipitation will cause a massive change in conditions over the weekend, with the first round only materializing as snow at the upper elevations on Saturday. Snowlines finally creep lower by the end of the weekend. 

Observations in neighboring zones indicate a general consensus that lower elevations are frighteningly bare of snow, and that wet loose avalanche activity, though not completely put to rest, was mostly in effect earlier in the week. 

Regions covered