Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

With human triggered slab avalanches noted on Tuesday, give steep unsupported terrain another day to stabilize, especially at mid and upper elevations.  Larger and more consequential slides are possible on recently wind-loaded slopes in higher terrain.  Fresh drifting may occur along ridgelines as winds increase Wednesday. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Several smaller human triggered storm slab avalanches were observed on Tuesday, with an older, larger natural avalanche that likely occurred sometime Sunday night or Monday morning.  While storm instabilities should be healing, we're still well in the window where you want to give steep unsupported slopes and convex rollovers another day of caution.  Steer towards less extreme and more supported terrain to lower your risk of triggering a slide in the recent storm snow. 

    We have little information about upper elevations, where slabs will be deeper, more consequential, and stiffer in recently wind-loaded terrain.   Firm wind slabs may be difficult to assess and often surprise travelers.  Winds are forecast to increase on Wednesday and should start to move snow along ridgelines and higher peaks.  Observe where winds are drifting new and recent snow;  fresh wind slabs will likely grow over the next few days.  

     

    (2/24/2026)

    Human triggered avalanche on a SE aspect of Mt Herman Tuesday.  

    These should may be more stubborn to trigger on Wednesday, but continue to give them caution on steep unsupported features. 

    Photo: Jere Burrell

Avalanche Discussion

We received a smattering of avalanche reports on Tuesday from the Baker backcountry: large explosive triggered (D2.5) on Hemispheres by MBSP, small natural sluffs and slab avalanches, and one human triggered slab avalanche on Mt Herman.  An older large slab avalanche was observed in Bagley Basin, likely from sometime during peak storm intensity Sunday night/Monday morning.  Weather-wise,  there was a stark division between overcast and mostly sunny skies on Tuesday, and the West North saw almost full sun for a good chunk of the day.    With temperatures creeping up to around the freezing mark across the zone near 5000',  expect a new sun crust to form on steeper sunny aspects Tuesday night, at least on mid/lower elevations.  The most recent storm period dropped 2-2.5' in the Mt Baker area before snow tapered off Monday afternoon. 

Avalanche professionals throughout the Cascades this week reported several weak layers below the recent snow, including sugary facets, surface hoar, and stellars, often prompting them to dial back their terrain choices. We haven’t confirmed any avalanches on these layers in the West North zone, but other parts of the region are dealing with persistent slab issues.  If you're traveling to parts of the zone less frequently traveled, slow down.  Take the time to investigate the upper snowpack, as you may encounter a more complex and harder-to-manage snowpack. 

Regions covered