Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago.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

You’re most likely to trigger a dangerous avalanche on large, steep, wind-loaded slopes at higher elevations, so avoid these steep areas —especially if you notice shooting cracks. When the sun shines intensely, expect sunny slopes to quickly wet and produce avalanches. Move away from these slopes if you see rollerballs, heavy wet snow, or natural slides.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    A forecaster found that wind slabs at Heather Meadows were stubborn to trigger avalanches on during their outing on Thursday. They also intentionally avoided large, steep, slopes that had obvious wind loading and rolled over into even steeper terrain beneath them, as they highly suspected that entering that terrain would have resulted in a large, destructive avalanche (observation). Avalanches may be more difficult to trigger than previous days, but this doesn't mean you won't trigger one if you're in the right spot. 

    Search for wind-affected snow. Wind slabs may be smooth and rounded, or they could have a textured surface. These areas will feel firmer beneath you than softer, non wind-affected snow. Slabs frequently develop in gullies, on the leeward side of ridges and features, and around outcroppings. Look for obvious clues like long, shooting cracks, and dig small hand pits to see how easily the heavier, wind-affected layer slides over the softer snow beneath it. Avoid steep slopes where you encounter wind slabs, and especially if you find obvious clues of concern.

     

    Example photo: Note the textured surface on this wind slab, and long, shooting cracks as the avalanche initiated. 

    Photo: Adam Ü

  • Loose Wet

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

    There were small amounts of wet loose avalanche activity on Thursday, and a crust may have formed on some slopes that were wetted. More solar input is expected on Friday, and temperatures are expected to climb higher than the previous day, so there could be an uptick in wet loose avalanche activity. Expect the most activity from rocky areas. 

    Steep slopes facing the sun will get sloppy and wet, and could slide. If you notice rollerballs, slides, or are surrounded by wet, sticky snow, shift to lower-angle terrain away from the bottom of large paths facing the sun, or move to a colder aspect. 

    (3/26/2026)

    Intermittent clouds mostly kept loose snow avalanches in check on Thursday, but a few small D1's were visible on southerly aspects. South aspect at 5700 feet above Upper Bagley Lake.

    Photo: Lee Lazzara

Avalanche Discussion

If you enter steep, wind-loaded terrain, think about an escape route if you trigger an avalanche. If you're in high-consequence areas like above rocks, cliffs, trees or a gully, being caught in even a small slide could result in a bad outcome. We have limited information from higher elevations and areas further east, where slabs could be more sensitive. If you travel to these areas, be sure to investigate the snowpack for yourself, or, when in doubt, avoid steep terrain with wind-affected snow. 

The Heather Meadows weather station received just over 3 inches of water Tuesday through early Thursday morning. Early on, there was some waffling between rain and snow at mid elevations, but thankfully, the last bit of precipitation came in with cooling temperatures and finished as snow. There was 8-10 inches of non-wind-affected dry snow in the area on Thursday. Wind gusted over 50mph at Pan dome on Wednesday, resulting in reactive wind slabs, like what someone likely triggered in the Baker backcountry on Wednesday (first media photo), but since then stability has slowly improved. There were large and very large natural avalanches that likely occurred around this time at higher elevations surrounding the Baker backcountry (see media gallery). 

Regions covered