Bollettino valanghe

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
Vedi sulla mappa

Pericolo valanghe

Fri
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
Open full map
Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 6 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Even if it’s not snowing hard, windy conditions could continue to load avalanche paths and test weak layers in the snowpack. With active weather, overlapping avalanche concerns, and a tricky snowpack, keep it simple. Seek out lower angle, lower consequence, and wind sheltered terrain to enjoy the new snow.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Gusty winds should continue to build firmer, thicker slabs along ridges, exposed features, and beneath cliffs. Fortunately, all the clues are there to help you determine local wind patterns and anticipate potentially wind loaded slopes. Pay attention to blowing snow, sharp drifts, and fresh cornices.

    Wind slabs are typically easy to spot, but hard to assess, especially when they are firm and hollow. Since these are fresh slabs, they’ll be at their most reactive. Use lower angle, wind stripped, and sheltered terrain to slip past this problem.

    (2/26/2026)

    Example: Blowing snow, textured surfaces, rime, and drifts make it easy to locate wind loaded slopes. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1.5–2.5

    The troublesome underlying persistent weak layers in the upper snowpack haven’t changed. While this storm may not be huge, by Cascade standards, it's certainly adding stress to the snowpack and testing this problem. While the storm may not be big enough to push it over the edge, it adds another layer of uncertainty to an already complicated situation. 

    This isn’t a problem you can dig a pit or do a test and get a quick answer. We can’t say one slope will or will not slide. Take time to talk about the consequences and risks with your team before stepping out into larger open slopes. 

    In some locations, a wind slab avalanche could act as the trigger for a much deeper persistent slab. Give this problem more space in and around wind loaded terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

As of Wednesday afternoon, 4-6 inches of snow has stacked up at middle elevations, and it’s still snowing! Temperatures should continue to cool through Thurday allowing storm totals to grow. All this new snow is falling on a wet, mushy surface. Eventually, this should freeze and form a new crust. The slow cooling trend should help the new snow stick to the new crust, and the thicker this firm layer gets, the harder it could become to trigger deeper weak layers. 

We’ve been tracking persistent weak layers in the snowpack for weeks. They really reared their head on 2/21 with several days of avalanches, shooting cracks, and whumpfs. However, despite little change in the snowpack structure, things have been quiet for several days. Here’s a rundown of the layers of concern. 

  • Generally above ~5000ft
  • 2/13 Surface Hoar/Facets: Shaded aspect. About 6 inches above the 2/7
  • 2/7 Crust: Facets above and sometimes below the crust. All aspects.

Coverage continues to be a real issue, especially at lower elevations and on sunny slopes. Plan extra time to manage the laundry list of obstacles and hazards. 

Regioni coperte