Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Conditions will feel generally safe on Sunday, but there’s still a small chance of finding a large wet avalanche. These are most likely to occur on steep, rocky slopes and could release unpredictably from above.  Limit your time traveling on or beneath steep slopes, rocky terrain, or hanging snow fields.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Wet avalanches will present a low-likelihood, high-consequence scenario on Sunday. By Sunday morning, most surfaces will be firm from an overnight refreeze, but the snow deeper down is likely still soft and unsupportable. Avalanches are most likely to occur in the extra-warm areas, on sunny, steep slopes, near rocks and cliff bands, but they could also happen on any slope or rocky feature where remaining snow could shed. It's becoming more difficult to trigger these slides underfoot, but it's not a guarantee they won't happen. These types of avalanches are difficult to predict, so choose the proper terrain and travel techniques to limit your exposure. 

    Limit your time traveling on or beneath steep rocky slopes where mushy snow could shed.

    (3/18/2026)

    A natural, wet slab avalanches in the Crystal Mountain area on Wednesday, 3/18. Large releases like this are hard to pin down when and where they will happen.

    Photo: Crystal Mountain Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Spring-like weather took hold across the West South on Saturday, with a few lingering snow showers near and north of Mount Rainier. Skies cleared overnight, allowing snow surfaces to firm up for the first time in over a week. Where a surface crust formed, it remained thin and broke down quickly, with mushy snow returning by late afternoon. Another overnight refreeze is expected Saturday night into Sunday for much of the zone. Areas along the far northern edge may see more cloud cover, which could limit how well surfaces refreeze.

No new avalanche activity was reported on Saturday. The most recent large wet avalanches occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, a mix of natural and explosive-triggered releases. As more time passes since the rain event, large wet slab avalanches are trending less likely and fewer frequency. That said, there is still a chance on Sunday.

An NWAC forecaster took a drive to the southern end of Mt Adams on Saturday to scope out the current coverage. The low elevations have very little coverage until reaching Morrison Creek campground. A few older crowns could be seen up high, with rain runnels visible to nearly 9000 feet.

With surfaces expected to refreeze overnight, travel conditions could be tedious and slick. If you're getting an early start on Sunday, plan for potentially challenging travel. 

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