Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

You may be able to trigger avalanches at upper elevations in recently formed drifts. Blowing snow or cracks shooting through the snow will indicate where you could trigger an avalanche. If you see these clues, stick to lower-angle slopes and wind-sheltered terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You could trigger shallow wind slab avalanches on leeward slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Clues to these avalanches are long shooting cracks or observing stiffer snow as you move higher in terrain.  Use caution just below ridges and on wind-exposed features. Steer around deeper pillows of drifted snow on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

    Southeast wind will increase and could be strong enough to transport snow and build new slabs by Wednesday afternoon. More widespread but older slabs from southwest winds will now be difficult to trigger. Upper elevations will be the most likely place to trigger an avalanche. However, it wouldn't be out of the question to find the snowpack structure on leeward slopes just below ridges at middle elevations. 

    (2/9/2024)

    Skiers triggered a very small (6" deep) windslab avalanche that ran on the 1/31 crust. Copper Creek, SE, 7200ft

    Photo: Harry Keane

Avalanche Discussion

Recently, observers have reported a handful of small avalanches. Skiers triggered wind slab avalanches on Sunday through Tuesday at upper elevations. Over the weekend, small, natural loose avalanches ran, both sun-triggered and of the dry variety on shaded slopes.

On Friday and Sunday, forecasters traveled in the mountains north of Mazama and Winthrop. They found a stout but shallower snowpack, with the typical 1/31 crust in the upper snowpack. At upper elevations, a thin layer of larger facets was on the ground. The hard overlying slabs and crust should keep the facets from being a concern for avalanches. Recent storm totals on the 1/31 crust are similar, if slightly less than near Washington Pass above 6,000ft. Of note, most slopes that were examined near and east of Mazama On Thursday, NWAC forecasters and avalanche professionals found 8-10"(20-25cm) of settled, dry snow at upper elevations over the stout 1/31 crust. Favored upper elevation terrain held as much as 1.5' (45cm) over the crust, while lower elevations had as little as 2". Small facets were found in some locations just above the 1/31 crust.

Below the 1/31 crust, most of the snowpack got moist or wet during the late January rain event. The December melt form/facets are no longer a layer of concern. Snowpack information is limited outside of the Highway 20 corridor, including Harts Pass, the Chelan Sawtooths, and near and east of Mazama. If you're traveling in these areas, let us know what you find by submitting an observation.

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