Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

We could receive over another foot of snow by the end of the day Tuesday with wind, and human-triggered avalanches will be likely. Avoid all steep slopes, but especially ones where you can identify wind loading. If you see natural avalanche activity, stay more conservative and avoid terrain beneath steep slopes as well. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    We're receiving around another foot of new snow by the end of the day Tuesday. Most avalanche activity will probably be in wind-loaded areas, but if you find deeper pockets of low-density new snow, steer around these areas as well to give it time to settle. Slabs will probably break 6 inches to a foot deep, but there's a chance they could break as deep as the new snow layer, in some places 2 or more feet deep.

    You can use small test slopes or hand pits to check for shallower instabilities. Feel for stiffer slabs, where wind deposited snow, as these areas will likely be more reactive and should be avoided. When in doubt, avoid all slopes greater than 35°. If you notice any natural avalanche activity, avoid terrain beneath steep slopes as well. 

    (3/10/2024)

    A skier-triggered slab mid-slope on a northerly aspect in the neighboring Snoqualmie zone.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

NWAC will be closed on Tuesday, March 12th, as we gather and grieve following the death of one of our forecasters, Matt Primomo. We will not issue regular avalanche or mountain weather forecasts on Tuesday. We will return to normal operations on Wednesday, March 13th. We appreciate the community's understanding and support during this time.

Outlook for Wednesday:  Avalanche danger is expected to slowly improve on Wednesday as the storm winds down. Less natural avalanche activity is expected, but human-triggered avalanches will still be likely. The sun may pop out and moisten southerly surfaces, and small amounts of wet loose avalanche activity could result. 

Forecast discussion:

Forecasts are showing around 6 inches overnight, and a similar amount during the day. Near the bottom of the lower elevation band, we'll probably be getting rain and snow will be moist. Small wet loose avalanches may occur. Storm slab avalanche problems will be less likely where snow is wet. 

Neighboring zones have persistent weak layers buried either beneath the new snow layer, or deeper. There's a small chance that these could exist in the West Central zone. It'll be tough to find them unless you dig many feet down to them. You probably wouldn't get any warning signs before triggering a deep, unsurvivable avalanche on this layer. If you notice any large natural avalanche activity this is an indicator that a persistent weak layer may be present and all avalanche terrain should be avoided. 

Regions covered