Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The first major storm in weeks will bring about a major change in conditions and avalanche danger will rise in the afternoon. Scale back your exposure to steep slopes as snowfall increases and unstable slabs form in downwind terrain. Stormy conditions could complicate travel in wind exposed areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slab size and distribution should increase as new snow provides more raw material for the wind to blow around. Snowfall will pick up in the afternoon with a matching uptick in danger. Forecast wind speeds are strong enough that you might find fresh wind slabs in unusual areas or below treeline.

    Pay attention to wind direction and blowing snow - both will show you exactly which slopes are loading up. New slabs will likely be small and easier to avoid early on. Just steer around smooth, rounded drifts and other steep, wind loaded features. Heavier snowfall at day’s end could make for bigger slabs that require more caution. 

    Active wind transport points the way towards fresh wind slab. 

Avalanche Discussion

Most precipitation with the coming storm should fall overnight Friday into Saturday. If heavy snowfall comes earlier than forecast, dangerous conditions and widespread, reactive slabs could develop during daylight hours. Whatever ends up happening, be ready to scale back terrain choices and exposure. It will just get stormier with greater avalanche danger as day turns to night.

Field reports were few on Thursday - most are likely waiting for the first major storm since mid-January to freshen things up. Strong southerly winds and high clouds limited warming of the snow surface despite relatively warm temperatures. No wet loose avalanche activity was observed. Intense wind transport was noted on Baker and Shuksan. Wind slabs that formed in more commonly traveled areas were easy to trigger but small in size.

Faceted layers - especially at the surface - are always on our minds coming out of an extended period of mostly high pressure. Various wind events, sun and warming, and bouts of light snowfall have probably prevented a uniform weak layer from developing across the zone. On the other hand, it’s better to know than speculate. If you are out tomorrow, let us know what you find at the surface - and even a bit deeper in the snowpack if you are into that kind of thing.

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