Bulletin d’avalanche

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Tue
Alpin
3 · Marqué
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
2 · Modéré
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré last year. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Wet and dry avalanche problems are possible depending on elevation. Stick to simple, sheltered terrain and avoid travel beneath cornices, glide cracks, or steep slopes with fresh snow.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1.5–2.5

    The storm will cool the highest terrain, but mid-elevation slopes will stay warm and wet after three days of above-freezing temperatures. Rainfall overnight will add even more liquid water to the snowpack. Glide cracks and other unstable snow features on cliffs or unsupported slopes could turn into large slab avalanches. Cornices continue to weaken and also remain a concern. Stay out from beneath glide cracks, snowy cliff faces, and corniced ridgelines.

    Rain and warmth could also trigger wet loose avalanches on steep terrain. Steer clear of slopes where you see rollerballs, recent wet avalanches, or find mushy, unsupportable snow.

    (4/16/2021) 

    Glide cracks and wrinkled snow are signs of a snowpack on the move, sliding on the ground below.

     Photo: Steve Kuznetzov

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely
    Taille
    1–2

    The storm will cool the highest terrain, but mid-elevation slopes will stay warm and wet after three days of above-freezing temperatures. Heavy overnight rainfall will add even more liquid water to the snowpack. Glide cracks and other unstable snow features on cliffs or unsupported slopes could turn into large slab avalanches. Cornices continue to weaken and remain a concern. Stay out from beneath glide cracks, snowy cliff faces, and corniced ridgelines.

    Rain and warmth could also trigger wet loose avalanches on steep terrain. Steer clear of slopes where you see rollerballs, recent wet avalanches, or find mushy, unsupportable snow.

    (1/22/2024)

    A shooting crack in fresh, slabby snow. One of the many signs of instability. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Continued wet avalanche activity was reported this weekend from around the Cascades (you can get the details here). Temperatures will begin to cool, but that won’t resolve wet avalanche issues overnight. Cornices continue to sag, and glide slabs are still creeping downhill. While these release intermittently, the danger is real, especially in complex terrain where it’s harder to give yourself space from overhead hazards. 

While the upper snowpack has already seen considerable warming and water, it’s unclear how it will respond to another round of rain before snow levels drop. Will an additional inch of water spark a widespread avalanche cycle, or has the snowpack already adjusted to spring temperatures and rain?

New and wind-drifted snow at upper elevations will drive the avalanche danger rating, but most people are more likely to deal with wet snow problems at mid elevations. The best advice? Stick to sheltered terrain with minimal overhead exposure while the storm plays out and temperatures cool off.

Régions couvertes