Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You could trigger small avalanches on wind-drifted upper elevation terrain on Saturday. Identify thicker deposits on steep slopes and steer around them if being caught in an avalanche would push you into a gully, send you off a cliff, or into trees.  Saturday is our last day of light snowfall before a large system deposits feet of snow in the zone through Tuesday. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Small, isolated wind slabs may exist on above treeline slopes on Saturday. A couple small storms since Wednesday amounted to about 6 inches at upper elevations, and we'll receive just a bit more snow Friday night.  Light to moderate winds could redistribute the low-density snow into small slabs which may react to a human trigger. Search for thicker pockets around rocky outcroppings, in gullies, or on leeward slopes on steep features. Avalanches in these drifts probably wouldn't be large enough to bury you if you triggered one, but if you're near a terrain trap they could still cause harm. 

    A shallow wind slab avalanche that occurred with a skier trigger on a steep rollover earlier this year, similar to what you might find at upper elevations on Saturday.

    Photo: Matt Lubar

Avalanche Discussion

A deep persistent slab avalanche concern previously listed as a problem is remaining on our radar. We don't expect that a human could trigger an avalanche on the layer, located on upper elevation northerly aspects.  There's a chance that a large cornice falling on it, or another avalanche, could trigger this layer buried 4-8 feet down, which would result in a very large avalanche.  For now, remain aware of the problem, and consider not lingering for long periods on or beneath large slopes where it may exist, especially if large overhead cornices are present.

A much larger frontal system approaches Saturday night, and the brunt of the precipitation is expected to land in the West North Zone. We're seeing a  lot of uncertainty in models at this time, but there's a good chance we'll finish up with several feet of snow. Prepare for a period of elevated avalanche danger in the coming days with dry snow problems, as winter reminds us it's not done yet. 

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