West Slopes Central

Use normal caution while traveling in avalanche terrain, including carrying and knowing how to use a transceiver, shovel, and probe. If you were to trigger an avalanche it would likely be on a slope holding wind-drifted snow in alpine terrain. Assess for instability before entering steep and consequential terrain and avoid steep slopes collecting wind drifted snow.

Northerly winds are forecast to increase through the day. Most windward terrain has seen multiple rounds of wind and just doesn’t have the snow available to form fresh slabs on downwind slopes. Of course, there are some exceptions out there. A few areas might have gotten an inch of new snow on Thursday afternoon. Some others may not yet have seen significant wind and still have soft snow on windward terrain. Either way, if there is loose snow available for transport and it’s windy, avoid steep features and slopes accumulating wind drifted snow.

Observers in West North reported moderate winds drifting snow at mid and upper elevations on Friday. A single small human-triggered slab was observed on a northeast aspect at 5100’. The time of occurrence is unknown but probably triggered in the last few days. An NWAC Forecast in Stevens Pass found highly variable conditions, surface hoar, and more evidence of a weakening snowpack. Very firm snow surfaces made for tenuous travel on some slopes. 

Warming is not forecast to have a significant impact on Saturday. That could change in the days following with sharply rising freezing levels and yet more sun. Many southerly aspects have produced wet avalanches during prior warming cycles, so they should be less reactive with more of the same. But cliffs and other rugged terrain still have more snow to shed once it gets warm again. Keep an eye on sunny slopes and snowy cliffs overhead and don’t linger on or below them if you see fresh rollerballs, small wet avalanches, glide cracks, or signs of active melting.

The snowpack continues to weaken during this prolonged period of high pressure, cool temps, and mostly clear skies. Snow surfaces vary widely between slick crust, wind affected snow, heavily tracked-out slopes, and even some soft snow on sheltered, northerly terrain. The distribution of weak snow surfaces varies, but below the surface plenty of faceted snow can be found, often sandwiched between and around crust layers. This structure is not currently an issue in most places, but it will be a different story once there is a slab above.