Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Human-triggered avalanches will be most likely in wind-drifted areas at the start of the day, though unusual loading patterns may make those drifts harder to recognize. Search for heavier, thicker drifts of snow and steer around them on steep slopes. When in doubt, shift your travels to lower angle terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Human-triggered avalanches were reported in the West North and Snoqualmie zones on Saturday. Snow conditions range widely, from subtle weaknesses and reactive newly drifted layers up north to a more obvious persistent weak layer finally starting to get enough of a load on top of it in the Snoqualmie Pass zone. We aren't quite sure where the West Central sits in this spectrum- but we suspect it sits more similarly to the West North. Depending on where you are in the zone, check out the neighboring forecast. 

    Start your day by identifying and avoiding wind-loaded terrain. Look for blowing snow, rippled surfaces, smooth, rounded pillows, or dense, hollow-feeling snow. They frequently form in gullies- large or subtle, on rollovers, along ridgelines, or around rock features. The challenge is that these clues may be buried under fresh snow, so feel for firmer surfaces under soft layers. Danger increases as you work your way higher, with more wind-effect. 

    You may trigger an avalanche before seeing clear warning signs. Still, treat recent avalanches, long shooting cracks, and whumphs as clear signals to stay off steep, wind-loaded slopes. Avoid traveling on steep features above terrain traps like cliffs, trees, rocks, or gullies — even a small slide has serious consequences in high-exposure terrain.

    (2/21/2026)

    Small avalanches on wind loaded test slopes in the West North zone on Saturday. Expect slab sizes to increase, wind-affected snow to be disguised on Sunday. 

    Photo: Kam DH

Avalanche Discussion

This isn’t a typical wind slab problem for Sunday. Unusual winds over the past 48 hours have drifted very light, dry snow into unexpected places, and shifting winds plus new snowfall may now hide those slabs. If we get enough snow, there's a small chanced that even non-wind-loaded snow in sheltered terrain could produce a surprising avalanche. 

Conditions may vary dramatically from one ridge to the next. Reassess frequently as you travel and as loading continues.

A highly variable 6-10 inches of soft snow overlies denser layers across much of the zone and has become increasingly wind-affected. We suspect there are patches of faceted snow and surface hoar at several interfaces and near the surface, though some surface weaknesses may have been destroyed with recent wind. We still probably lack the deeply developed weak layers found elsewhere in the Cascades, but there’s enough fragile snow that a larger load could produce more activity than usual. Sunday’s ~4 inches may not bring widespread avalanches, but don’t assume it will behave like a typical small storm.

Regions covered