Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Our avalanche concerns are limited to slopes below extreme terrain features, such as areas where you find steep snow-covered rocky cliffs, wrinkled-looking snow, glide cracks, and cornices. Avoid travel, or at least travel quickly, beneath any of these overhead hazards. In other areas, avalanche danger is Low, and your largest hazard is firm, bumpy snow surfaces. 

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    There was a report from backcountry skiers in the Baker backcountry on Sunday that they heard a large crashing - a suspected avalanche - coming from the south side of Table Mountain, just before they were going to drop down to it. They decided to retreat instead. We want to say that our avalanche concerns are behind us, but with continued reports of sporadic natural avalanches, we don't feel good about dropping the overall danger to low. 

    Identify glide cracks and other overhead hazards before you are directly below them. Give them a wide berth, avoid the area completely, or travel hastily beneath them if you must be in that area. Do not stop, regroup, or linger below this sketchy, unstable-looking snow. 

    We've heard of even less wet loose avalancheactivity. Any that occur would likely release from similar locations as the glide problem- on sunny slopes. You'd probably get warning signs first. Search for rollerballs, shedding snow, or small loose avalanches on steep, sunny slopes. 

    (1/17/2026)

    A large debris pile from a glide avalanche covering the common skintrack that crosses the south side of Table Mountain. This glide avalanche was witnessed midday on Friday. This is a low likelihood, high consequence scenario. If you were traveling underneath this when the avalanche happened, it would probably kill you. 

Avalanche Discussion

THIS observation from the Baker backcountry on Saturday highlights key conditions and avalanche hazards. While no avalanches were witnessed, large debris piles from a recent avalanche covered common travel routes, which is concerning. This is a low likelihood, high consequence scenario: in the unlikely chance you're caught in one of these large, dangerous avalanches, you'll probably die. 

North-facing slopes have a thick surface crust, greater than a foot in some areas. South-facing slopes are softening midday. Despite temperatures in the 50's at mid-elevations, clear skies result in long-wave losses, which cause surface cooling. This makes it feel much colder than you'd think, especially in shaded areas or overnight. Inversions keep shaded mountain valleys much colder and frosty, even if daytime highs reach 40°.

Finally, beware that any faster modes of travel have trended unpleasant due to the hard, bumpy surfaces. Slide-for-life risks are present as well. Meanwhile, it's prime time for mountaineers.

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