Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

Expect a mix of wet and dry avalanche problems depending on elevation. Wet snow avalanches are a concern at low and mid elevations below cliffs and other very steep slopes. New snow at upper elevations should form small slabs, especially on wind-loaded slopes.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    The number and size of wet-loose avalanches on Friday are up for debate, but it is a given the upper snowpack is currently moist or wet up to 5000-5500 feet. It should mostly stay that way with rising snow levels and light rainfall.

    Avoid travel on or directly below slopes showing signs of wet avalanche instability, such as rollerballs and very small wet slides, or where the snow is wet and sloppy. If rainfall is greater than expected, we could start to see wet slab avalanche activity as well.

    (3/5/2026)

    Recent wet avalanches on the north side of Table Mt that initiated at 5000. They likely released during rainfall a few days ago.

    Photo: Jan Osobov - Cascade Mountain Ascents

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    New snow amounts are not impressive, but the warming trend at higher elevations could create shallow new-snow instabilities. Look for strong-over-weak layering as you gain elevation, and use hand pits and test slopes to evaluate the bond of new snow layers.

    Winds are not forecast to be particularly strong, but you are still more likely to trigger an avalanche on wind-loaded slopes that hold slightly thicker and more sensitive slabs. Unstable slabs might also be found at and below 5000 feet in the morning if colder, drier snow falls overnight.

    (12/18/2020)

    Storm slab avalanches can fail at the old-new snow interface or within the layers of new snow.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    2–3

    The persistent slab avalanche problem is trending less likely. The mountains have seen continued loading from rain and wet snow, but no new slab avalanches have been reported in areas that saw the most persistent slab activity over the weekend. Numerous wet-loose avalanches in the past day or two have also not pulled out any large slabs. That said, this problem remains on the radar in select locations, such as Excelsior Ridge in Canyon Creek, in or near North Cascades National Park, or along the Canadian border.

    It’s possible to dig down and look for layers of buried surface hoar or facets and evaluate stability. Whumphing or shooting cracks are red flags, but don't count on getting warned beforehand. The easiest solution might be to avoid steep, unsupported slopes in areas where these avalanches were reported over the weekend. These layers could also wake up with a bigger shot of rain this weekend.

    (3/1/2026)

    A large, snowmobile-triggered avalanche in Canyon Creek. This likely occurred on a persistent layer, based on the wide propagation and nearby snowpit data.

Avalanche Discussion

The main avalanche problem transitioned from drier slabs to wet avalanches through the day in the Baker Backcountry. Avalanche control work first thing Thursday morning produced very easy-to-trigger but shallow, small slabs on most aspects above 4500 feet. Warming and wet snow took hold as temperatures climbed significantly higher than forecasted, and thin clouds allowed for greenhouse conditions. Small natural wet avalanches were observed in the afternoon, and it was reported to be quite easy to get wet snow moving on very steep slopes. Debris from larger, slightly older wet avalanches was visible around Upper Bagley.

The mountains have picked up anywhere from 4 to 10 inches of new snow, with areas farther west in the zone favored for more precipitation under the current wind direction. Deeper weak layers that produced large and dangerous avalanches in other parts of West North are now buried four or more feet deep in the Baker Backcountry and have not produced significant results in testing. The upper snowpack at low and mid elevations is moist due to recent rainfall and continued warm temperatures.

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