Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The storm is briefly over, but stick to lower angle terrain today as the snowpack settles. New snow may be several feet deep as you climb towards upper elevations and it remains likely that you can trigger an avalanche in the new layers, so avoid steep slopes. Wet new snow could slide, while old glide and cornice avalanche concerns also exist - yet another reason to avoid steep terrain, but also areas beneath any suspect saggy cornices, cracks, or sliding new snow layers. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Increasing temperatures and sun breaks will result in wet loose avalanches running in new snow layers on the surface. These avalanches may reach as high as the upper elevation band, where several feet of new snow exists.

    If the new snow gets moist and sticky, or if you see rollerballs or small slides coming down, then avoid being on similar steep slopes, and consider steering around lower angle terrain beneath those slopes.

    If wet avalanches are influenced by the sun, shift to shadier aspects. Small wet avalanches may also trigger deeper slab avalanches as they progress down a slope. 

    Example photo: Wet loose avalanches will probably first initiate near trees or rock patches. They could grow large and destructive. 

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    You’re most likely to trigger a slab in wind-loaded terrain, but any steep slope with more than 6-10 inches of new snow is suspect. Failures may occur in mid-storm layer or closer to the bottom of the storm snow, but uncertainty exists as to where or how a failure may happen.

    It’s possible, given the warm temperatures, that the snow could settle out quickly, but to play it safe, steer around steep slopes on Wednesday and stick to lower-angle terrain.

    (3/17/2025) Small and large human triggered slab avalanches like this one may still occur on Wednesday Photo: Irene Henninger

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–2.5

    Gaping glide cracks were visible in many locations prior to the storm that arrived Sunday evening. Temperatures haven’t particularly cooled off much, and at least a couple additional inches of rain fell at lower and mid elevations before a transition to snow began. 

    There’s a good chance most glide cracks have new snow covering over them, but that doesn’t mean it’s less likely for one of those lurking beasts to release right now. Make sure you don't fall into a hidden one! Stay on high alert while in the vicinity of glide cracks. Consider avoiding slopes beneath them. The same goes for large, saggy cornices.

    Even if likelihood is low that you’ll be under one of these menaces when they decide to fail, if they do go while you’re beneath them then there’s a good chance failure will be catastrophic, so it’s best to minimize that exposure and steer around them.

    (3/30/2025)

    A very large glide avalanche that recently occurred on the flanks of Del Campo

    Photo: Nick Thayer

Avalanche Discussion

As the season winds down, the uncertainty sure is ramping up for us. We were rapidly transitioning to a spring snowpack, but then this storm threw a wrench in that process. New snow problems mixed with underlying deeper wet snow problems is spooky. The unusual mix also makes it difficult to forecast exactly what will be happening for Wednesday.

Don’t get lulled into a false sense of security if and when the sun pokes out. Just keep your terrain simple and wait until we progress into more of a predictable spring snowpack before you approach bigger and more complex terrain. 

If you get out, please share with us what you saw by submitting an observation HERE on the website or on the Avy app. 

Regions covered