Avalanche forecast

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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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

With another warm day, you could still trigger wet avalanches on steep terrain. The sun has been cooking southerly slopes for days, so wet avalanches might be easier to trigger on shady slopes at high elevations. Cornice falls, and snow shedding from cliffs are also possible, don't linger for long beneath these hazards. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    The warm spell continues, and even though it's been days of this warm weather, we can't write off wet avalanches yet. You could still trigger wet snow avalanches on steep slopes. While loose avalanches are often shallow and predictable, they could pick up significant debris and still be dangerous if they catch you off guard. Use small test slopes to see how easily the snow slides before committing to bigger terrain. Use caution near terrain traps, where an avalanche could push you into rocks, trees, or gullies. Travel one at a time and stop out from under steep slopes where others are traveling.As we enter spring, unpredictable wet avalanches can become more common. Steep rocky terrain and remaining cornices could shed naturally, so avoid snack breaks beneath these overhead hazards. Southerly aspects have seen significant warming and sunshine recently, so there is less snow to push around. Upper elevations, particularly shady slopes, might still have more dry snow that will slide more easily when it warms up. 

    (3/18/2026)

    Loose wet avalanches on Vasiliki Tower/Burgundy. 

    Photo: Marissa Popp

Avalanche Discussion

After another warm day on Monday, clouds should roll in by the late afternoon or early evening. While we won't likely see more than a sprinkle of precipitation, it should allow temperatures to cool and help limit wet avalanche conditions moving forward. With limited access and low snow cover farther east and south in the zone, we have minimal observations, which creates significant uncertainty. We suspect the snowpack is on its way to becoming a consolidated spring snowpack. But you should be prepared to make your own assessments as you travel. Look for red flag signs of instability, such as recent avalanches or long shooting cracks in wind-drifted snow. You can also use small test slopes to see how the snow reacts. Wet, dry, or in between, if it slides easily, you're more likely to trigger an avalanche on a larger, steep slope. Given the uncertainty, build extra terrain margins into your trip plan. 

Snow cover is thin on southerly slopes and at low elevations. Be aware of exposed rocks and open creeks. WSDOT has begun plowing operations on Hwy 20 between Silver Star trailhead and Newhalem. The road will be closed to all traffic Monday through Thursday while workers and machinery are operating.

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