Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche danger will rise through the day and could create dangerous conditions by afternoon. Bypass steep slopes where you observe active wind loading. Plan on falling back to sheltered areas when the weather deteriorates. Avoid being on or under steep terrain if you observe widespread signs of instability like shooting cracks and natural avalanche activity.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The mountains hold 1-2’ of dry, light snow. Strengthening winds will drift it into fresh slabs and a rise in temperature should further enhance slab formation. Steep, actively loading slopes should be pretty easy to identify and avoid - just look for blowing and drifting snow and don’t go there if you think it's steep enough to slide. Test slopes and other assessments might be useful earlier in the day to navigate avalanche terrain, but don’t get caught off guard by a rapid change in conditions.

    Also, pay attention to areas where your floatation of choice is getting trapped in soft snow underneath a stronger layer (the slab) at the surface. If heavy precipitation begins sooner than expected, be wary of slab avalanches on all aspects, wind-loaded or not.

    By the end of Saturday, be ready to deal with shallow - or not-so-shallow - wind slabs and poor visibility.

    Photo: Matt Lubar

Avalanche Discussion

Saturday is one of those days when it’s all about the timing. You might find reasonable conditions and get in a nice tour or ride before the storm. On the other hand things could get real sketchy, real quick. Whatever you end up doing with the day, keep an eye on the weather and have an exit strategy to get into simpler terrain when the time comes.

For all you snow campers out there, it’s worth noting there will be a big shift in conditions with heavy precipitation and rising snow levels. Plan for much higher avalanche danger by Sunday morning.

Conditions vary widely on the boundaries of West Central. Only one skier-triggered wind slab avalanche was reported from West North despite plenty of people out and about. It occurred on an NE aspect at 5800’ (location not specified,  4-8" deep by 100' wide,  size estimated at D1-1.5, skier not caught). There is about 12” of new snow in mid-elevation wind sheltered areas. Expect the same in the northern portions of West Central.

Snoqualmie Pass got hammered by convergence zone snowfall Thursday night with new snow totals approaching 30” and mid-elevations. Numerous small natural avalanches were reported. Steven Pass ended up with the least snow and no reported avalanches.

 

Regions covered