Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Natural wet loose avalanche will occur in the snow that fell Saturday night on steep, sunny slopes. When you notice rollerballs beginning to come down move to shady slopes. Travel may be challenging, with firm variable lower elevation and south-facing snow, and sticky surfaces in some areas. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    You will notice wet loose avalanches running on steep terrain on the southern half of the compass as slopes warm. We received enough new snow in the West North zone that you might consider avoiding sunny slopes once they begin to warm and rollerballs start coming down. Locations of the avalanches will slowly shift throughout the day, from easterly in the morning, through the south, and towards the west in the afternoon. These will remain in the new snow layers, possibly 4+ inches deep. The slick melt freeze crust on south slopes beneath the new snow  is an excellent sliding surface for avalanches to run on.  Keep an eye out for steep areas, especially around rocky outcroppings, which is where  wet loose avalanches most commonly initiate. Also consider your location even if you are only concerned about small avalanches, where terrain traps such as above a cliff band or thick trees, or in a gully would cause harm even if the avalanche is not large enough to bury you on an open slope. 

    Wet loose avalanches crossing common travel routes on the south side of Table Mountain.

Avalanche Discussion

Wind slab avalanches are unlikely, but you might still find them in isolated pockets of complex north-facing terrain at higher elevations. Search for drifts in gullies, around features, or beneath cliff bands. If you see wind loading, investigate how deep the slabs are and how readily they will slide before exposing yourself to the terrain. Have an escape route planned if you commit to a wind loaded slope.  Increasing daytime temperatures will also increase the likelihood of cornices breaking. Check out the photos below for a recent cornice triggered avalanche in the Ptarmigan area. There is a chance that a cornice could trigger wind slabs or maybe a deep slab avalanche on large, exposed upper elevation slopes. For this reason be very wary around cornices, staying far back from their edges and limit your exposure beneath corniced ridgelines. Another concern as conditions become more springlike is glide avalanches. These are very difficult to predict, but if you notice gaping cracks in the snowpack reaching all the way to the ground, it is best to avoid the slopes beneath the cracks.  Check out the photos below from a large glide avalanche which which occurred along the access road to the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail. 

Regions covered