Bulletin d’avalanche

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Fri
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 4 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

You could trigger an avalanche on recently formed wind slabs, mainly in near and above treeline elevations. Slabs will probably remain small, however expect them to increase in size as wind and snow continue throughout the day. Steer around steep, wind-loaded areas where you identify thicker pillows of snow on a slope. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    A slight increase in avalanche danger is expected on Thursday, as we receive a couple inches of snow overnight Wednesday and a couple more during the day. Search for clues of wind loading, indicated by rippled, textured surfaces or smooth, rounded pillows. Drifts tend to form on leeward sides of features. These include just below ridgelines, on convex rollovers, gully walls, or around rock outcroppings and cliffs. Approach steep, wind-affected slopes with caution, especially if they are in high consequence locations like around terrain traps. Expect to find more wind loading and reactive slabs as you go up in elevation. If in doubt, steer around steep, wind-loaded locations. 

    (4/11/2022)

    Shooting cracks like these coming from skis, snowshoes, feet, etc are indicators that a reactive wind slab exists. Photo: Lee Lazzara

Avalanche Discussion

Right now there's a lot of variability with backcountry conditions. You may find surprising pockets of low density snow that still haven't been affected by the last few day's wind, to a variety of wind-affected surfaces. Steep southerly aspects formed a sun crust on Sunday. Most lower-elevation areas have firm, old snow. Conditions will probably change a little on Thursday as freezing levels are forecasted to rise to 4000ft, softening snow at lower elevations especially with the addition of a little rain. There's a small chance you could see some wet loose avalanches on steep lower elevation slopes. At near and above treeline elevations we could see a few inches of new snow by the end of the day, and it'll likely be redistributed by wind in many areas. Uncertainty exists about how much precipitation we'll see. If we get more snow than forecasted, avalanche danger may be higher than expected. 

Régions couvertes