Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You can trigger an avalanche in wind drifted snow above treeline. Identify and avoid areas where the wind created fresh drifts to reduce the likelihood of triggering an avalanche. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Light snowfall and moderate winds will create new slabs in the alpine. You could also see new slabs and greater danger near treeline if there is more snow or stronger winds than forecast. Anticipate more and larger slabs closer to the Cascade Crest where east winds are stronger.

    The standard toolkit to identify and evaluate wind slabs - drifting snow, wind affected surfaces, cornices, cracking, tracking changes in slab depth and stiffness, etc. - should be plenty to help you bypass steep, freshly wind loaded slopes. If you are traveling in high consequence, alpine terrain best practice would be to apply all of the above. Conditions are generally safe in terrain with no wind affect and loading. 

    (4/11/2022)

    If you see this you found some reactive wind slab.

Avalanche Discussion

High clouds and cooler temperatures were reported to stymie any real warming Monday. Sunny mornings transitioning to afternoon showers are in the cards again for Tuesday and Wednesday. The likelihood of seeing wet avalanche activity is low but not impossible. If the sun is out and it feels warm, be on the lookout for wet avalanche activity on solar slopes.

It was a quiet day around West North with few observations and no avalanche activity.  A firm sun crust coats many slopes on the south half of the compass. Very good riding conditions are still reported from shaded and wind sheltered areas. Lots of wind affected snow is found along ridgelines.

An NWAC Forecaster in West Central found a right side up, stable snowpack. Testing produced no results at storm snow or graupel layers. No facets were found around a crust down about 4’ or at another, deeper crust.

Two cornice fall triggered slab avalanches were the most notable events over the weekend (obs, obs). Cornices grew large and unstable in the past month with colder temperatures, plenty of snowfall, and wind. These avalanches are a sign cornices are a hazard to backcountry travel - as in being below one or unknowingly standing on one - for the rest of the winter and spring.

Regions covered