Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The mountains are still serving up mild temperatures and strong sun.  The amount of wet avalanche activity will vary by location, but keep an eye out for signs of instability no matter where you end up in the mountains. Avoid travel on or directly below steep slopes where you find wet and mushy snow, rollerballing, or fresh avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Saturday brings even higher temperatures, but increasing cloud cover and building southerly winds might keep warming slightly in check. Either way, anticipate wet, loose avalanches on steep, sun-exposed slopes. The higher sun angles of April combined with thin clouds may warm northerly aspects as well.

    Friday night’s refreeze will likely be weak or short-lived, allowing surface snow to soften quickly. Rollerballs and small wet avalanches are signs that the snow surface is getting primed to shed some snow. If you see more substantial wet avalanches, then it’s time to be more conservative and avoid travel below all large and steep slopes. 

    (4/4/2025)

    Fresh wet loose avalanches on the south side of Granite Moutain in Snoqualmie Pass.

    Photo: Arya Farahani

  • Cornices

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

    As above-freezing temperatures persist, the likelihood of cornice falls goes up. These large overhanging features can break without warning, especially during the heat of the day. Glide cracks and other unstable snow features on cliffs or unsupported slopes can also release with sustained warming. All of these avalanches are unlikely in the sense that they are limited in distribution. That won’t matter if you are in the way of one.

    Give cornices a wide berth when traveling along ridgelines. Don’t linger beneath them or on slopes below..  Identify and limit travel below glide cracks and snowy cliffs. Cornice fall can often trigger a larger avalanche on the slope below. If you're heading into big alpine terrain, stay alert as to what is above you and minimize time beneath overhead hazards.

    (4/3/2025)

    Not only are large cornices looming just ahead, but cracks where one started to pull away from the ridgeline are visible just up and left of the skier.

    Photo: Tommy

Avalanche Discussion

Observers in alpine terrain reported small, shallow wind slabs that were easy to trigger. Despite their size, they could still do damage if you get caught off guard and take an unwanted ride into consequential terrain. Use test slopes and wind-drifted features to assess reactivity. Take a minute to size things up before committing to bigger terrain where the snow remains dry and winter-like. Lower elevations generally have minimal snow.

Warm temperatures, sun, and small wet avalanches continue to be reported across the Cascades. While there are still big crowns and debris piles out there, most are leftovers from the atmospheric river and the stretch of hot weather in late March. Observations are often sparse this time of year, but it’s likely we saw some fresh wet loose activity today—along with a few cornice falls and glide avalanches scattered through the forecast zone.

Saturday should be the last day with strong sun and significant warming. Sunday looks a bit cloudier and windier, but temperatures don’t drop much. A little light rain or snow is in the forecast, but shouldn’t move the needle much either way.

 

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