Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

New snow could destabilize in the warm weather, resulting in loose avalanches on steep, sun-exposed slopes. The size and consequences of any avalanche will depend on how much new snow fell during our last storm. Areas of the zone that received 6 inches or more over a crust could produce slides large enough to be considered consequential.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Rising freezing levels and bright sunshine could destabilize the new snow on Thursday. Since it's sitting on a crust, a good sliding surface is in place for shallow loose avalanches to fail on sun-exposed slopes. If you see new rollerballs, pinwheels, or fan-shaped avalanche debris, head to shadier aspects, keeping aware of what's above you. These slides may not be very large, but in the right terrain they could fan out and grow as they descend. Don't get tripped up by one near a terrain trap.

    (3/5/2025)

    Wet avalanche activity on sun-exposed East Peak.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    As you ascend in elevation, small slabs could exist in wind-exposed areas where more than a few inches of recent snow has fallen, such as on the volcanoes. Look for textured surfaces, new cornices, or pillow-like drifts near ridgelines or confined rocky chutes/gullies. If you suspect a slope is wind-loaded, avoid it.

    (3/5/2025)

    A shallow natural slab avalanche around 6400' on Mount Rainier. It's on a rocky, unsupported slope.

Avalanche Discussion

Our most recent storm gave a nice little refresh of snow to the West South zone. Storm totals vary, but you will likely find anywhere from 4-9 inches over a crust. In wind-exposed terrain, slopes could be scoured down to the crust or deeper pockets as much as a foot deep may exist. In areas less favored by the storm track, slides may not be large enough to be called consequential, resulting in generally safe avalanche conditions. Elsewhere, it may not be exceptionally dangerous, but there's enough new snow that you need to be aware of avalanche potential while you travel.

On Wednesday, a mix of sun and clouds impacted the zone, triggering rollerballs and small wet avalanches on slopes that received prolonged sunshine. Similar activity could be more widespread on Thursday, with more sunshine and rising temperatures expected. We don't anticipate any avalanches failing below the underlying crust at this time.

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