Bulletin d’avalanche

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

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

Points saillants

Expect calmer conditions and minimal snowfall compared to the past few days. Layers of snow from the last storm could still need time to gain strength, especially on wind loaded slopes. Reduce uncertainty by choosing lower angle, more planar terrain. Keep an eye out for signs of wet avalanche activity with mild temperatures and also the chance of seeing some sun.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Friday should bring an end to meaningful snowfall and winds are forecast to be mostly calm. No fresh layers of new or wind drifted snow should develop, but there is still +2’ of new snow in some areas. At upper elevations, thicker and drier layers of new snow could need more time to bond and gain strength.

    Assess new snow for instability before moving into bigger terrain. Track new snow depth and distribution as you gain elevation and change aspects. Look for clues like scoured snow surfaces, cornices, and drifts to show you the wind loading pattern in the terrain around you. Use simple tests to assess stability before committing to steep slopes.

    (2/8/2023)

    Steep and unsupported terrain like this slope is where you would be more likely to trigger an avalanche on Friday.

    Photo: Adam Ü

Avalanche Discussion

Be ready to assess wet snow instability on Friday. Temperatures will again hover in the low to mid 30s and some areas may even see some sun. Avoid travel on or immediately below steep slopes where you see fresh rollerballs, new avalanches, or simply find wet, mushy snow.

While other parts of the Cascades experienced stormy weather and widespread avalanche activity on Thursday, West North saw much tamer conditions. Precipitation approached forecast amounts but it appears a combination of mild temperatures and relatively less wind during the day kept avalanche danger in check, at least at mid-elevations.

An NWAC Forecaster in the Baker Backcountry found new and wind drifted layers settling quickly and bonding well. No natural or human-triggered avalanches and few signs of instability were observed. They did find large amounts of wind redistribution from earlier in the storm, with anywhere from 6 inches to 3 feet of snow over the crust buried on Dec 21st.

Avalanche control work produced wet avalanches below 4000’ and small, stubborn slabs at mid-elevations. Control work also produced large avalanches in upper-elevation, wind loaded terrain holding colder, drier snow. An observer in Glacier Creek found a mere 9 inches of new snow over a wet, punchy crust that made for difficult riding. No avalanches were observed in Glacier Creek.

Régions couvertes