Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

The 6 inches of rain that fell since Monday continues to drain through the snowpack. Most of the precipitation is over, but residual wet snow avalanches may still happen. Don't linger beneath large avalanche paths for another day. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Wet slab, glide, wet loose, and rock-and-dirt-alanches are lingering avalanche problems after the deluge we received Monday and Tuesday. Likelihood of an avalanche occurring has reduced, but especially at higher elevations there may still be large natural avalanche releases as water percolates down through the snowpack. Upper elevations had a larger and drier snowpack to start with so this is where we expect much of the lingering activity to happen. The snowpack shrunk extensively at the mid and lower elevations where nearly all of it was fully saturated with water.  For another day, avoid standing under avalanche paths, as there's a chance a large, destructive, dirty avalanche could still come down on you.

    Example photo: Wet snow avalanches like ones that may still happen on Wednesday. 

    Photo: Alyssa Young

Avalanche Discussion

A few inches of dry snow  will fall as temperatures cool at upper elevations Tuesday night into Wednesday. You may encounter small wind slabs if you travel to upper elevations. Triggering a wind slab avalanche probably wouldn't be large enough to bury you, but be aware of your surroundings and avoid wind slabs in high-consequence areas with terrain traps. 

I made it up to a whopping 2600ft via sled in the Highway 2 corridor on Monday. Snow at that elevation was about a foot and a half deep and already wet, but I suspect much of it has probably melted from the subsequent rain. The snowpack is fully saturated with water at least up to about 5000ft. Creeks are swollen and snow cover is sparse at lower elevations. 

 Beware of encountering thinly covered rocks, trees and creeks, which may lead to injury. If you get out into the backcountry,  let us know what you see by submitting an observation!

 

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