Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Identify and avoid very steep, unsupported slopes and features holding slabby, wind-drifted snow. Cornices and scoured ridgelines can show where snow has been stripped from some slopes and deposited on others. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    With another day to bond, triggering a wind slab will generally require steeper, more unsupported terrain. As slabs stiffen and become harder to trigger, they can also be more surprising if you do manage to find one. Fresher slabs may be found in high alpine terrain where winds were strong enough to continue transporting snow on Saturday.

    Identify likely wind slab locations by looking for clues like rippled snow or scoured surfaces in the surrounding terrain. Track changes in snow stiffness and depth over the underlying layer to pinpoint areas more likely to hold wind slabs.

    Test slopes and hand pits offer limited feedback once slabs become stiff and stubborn. The simplest way to manage risk is to avoid very steep, unsupported, wind-loaded features and complex or rocky terrain where wind slabs linger.

    (2/14/2023) 

    Example of a wind slab avalanche in rocky, unsupported terrain.

     Photo: Jere Burrell - Guided Exposure

Avalanche Discussion

Intermittent cloud cover should keep the sun at bay tomorrow, but there is still a chance of seeing small loose snow avalanches initiating in steep, rocky, treed, or cliffy terrain. Keep track of what is going on above you on southerly aspects as the day warms. Rollerballs and very small loose snow avalanches are signs you could see bigger ones.

A few human-triggered avalanches were reported as of late Saturday afternoon, all around the Baker Backcountry. A skier triggered a slab on a very steep (45+ degree), north-facing slope near the top of Table Mountain, and avalanche control work released a second hard slab avalanche in a northerly-facing, wind-loaded pocket. Small dry loose avalanches were what most people encountered today.

Winds were calm on Saturday, and snow conditions were reported as excellent. The exception was in high alpine terrain, where strong winds were redistributing snow and likely forming fresh slabs. Be prepared to find more reactive or larger slabs if you get high on Sunday.

State and local resources are working diligently to reduce the impacts of destructive storms that occurred earlier this month. We can help by respecting affected communities, complying with road closures, and adhering to ski area uphill travel policies.

Regions covered