Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche danger will increase as you gain elevation into wind-exposed terrain.  Steer around steep slopes where you identify slabs of recently wind-drifted snow. Thin to no snow cover is still found at lower elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    There was enough new snow to drift into fresh slabs at mid and upper elevations. Pay attention to the pattern of wind loading using scoured snow surfaces, cornice-like features, and changes in snow texture to figure out where wind slabs lurk.  You are most likely to find them on leeward slopes just below ridgeline.

    You can track the depth of new and wind-drifted snow over the wet, crusty snow below. This can help you identify areas holding deeper snow and wind slabs as you gain elevation and switch aspects.Use small test slopes to get a read on how the new snow is reacting to your weight. Small hand pits can show how well fresh slabs are bonded to moist snow or crust layers below.

    Observations from other zones indicated there is a good bond between the old, moist surface and the new snow that accumulated above.  Poorer bonding could be found where the new snow fell on a hard, frozen crust, but most slab avalanches should release within the new snow layers.

    (12/28/2021)

    Scoured, textured surfaces show that slabs of wind-drifted snow could be found nearby

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Temperatures should stay below freezing, but southerly aspects could see some sun warm the new snow in the afternoon. Pay attention to slopes overhead and look for initial signs of instability like snow shedding from trees and rocks, pinwheels or balls of snow rolling down the slope.

New snow amounts in West Central likely ranged from 4-8” of new snow at mid and upper elevations. Lower elevations likely saw a trace to a few inches of new snow fall on bare ground. The White Chuck Tripod picked up 6” while lesser precipitation and snowfall was recorded at weather stations farther south and in Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass. A convergence zone should set up over Snoqualmie Pass this evening and could put down more new snow in adjacent parts of West Central.

The new snow will just barely conceal a number of creek holes, rocks and even patches of bare ground that melted out in previous days. Old avalanche debris should also be on the checklist of non-avalanche hazards.

If you make it into the backcountry please send us anobservation!

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