Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Watch for signs of recently drifted and firmer snow on atypical aspects following several days of northerly ridgeline winds.  While the cloud forecast remains uncertain, Tuesday will be a few degrees warmer.  In areas with ample sunshine, keep an eye out for snow shedding off of rocks or small wet loose avalanches that release below cliffy terrain.     

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Following a few days of northerly winds, you may find that shallow wind slabs have formed on unusual aspects at upper elevations or open slopes at mid elevations.  They're likely becoming harder to trigger but in isolated areas, they may break wider than you expect where they've layered over weaker older snow and a firm crust. 

    Avalanches in new or recently drifted snow should be small. Use caution below ridgelines,  near rocky chutes, and generally leeward slopes over 35 degrees where you see deeper drifts of wind-affected snow or significant new blowing snow. If you see cracking in the snow or recent avalanches, avoid similar wind-loaded slopes. 

    (1/3/2025)

    A small skier triggered avalanche on a leeward slope on Delancey Ridge.

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

We'll mix in some more sun, high clouds, and moderate NW winds on Tuesday along with slightly warmer temperatures.  Small wet loose avalanches may be unlikely but if there's more sunshine than clouds, keep an eye for snow shedding off of rock faces or small wet loose avalanches releasing in isolated areas like below cliff bands heating up in the sun. 

The snow from early in the weekend fell on a firm crust (southerly facing) or weak facets and surface hoar (shaded slopes). Even at the Cascade crest, there hasn't yet been enough new snow for this new interface (1/10) to be overly problematic.  On Saturday, observers reported triggering two small wind slab avalanches in Varden Creek and Willow Creek, both roughly  NW, 6,500ft. Several older layers still exist in the snowpack. Near the Cascade crest, the most consistent has been the 1/1 interface where surface hoar was buried by 4-6 inches (10-15cm). Snowpack tests have been inconsistent on the layer. While we generally don’t expect avalanches on this layer, you can’t write off an isolated slab failing on this interface. 

On Thursday, an NWAC forecaster on Sweetgrass Butte found a generally strong and well-settled snowpack with widespread facets and some surface hoar on the surface of all but southeast through southwest aspects. An older weak layer of facets, 10" below the surface, produced sudden test results but didn't propagate in large columns. Similar to the Jan 1st buried surface hoar, found elsewhere, this could be a layer to watch on leeward, loaded slopes. 

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