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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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Spring weather will help turn the snow surface wet and sticky on Thursday. As it does so, you may see rollerballs and even a few natural loose avalanches. Even though these types of avalanches seem easy to manage, don’t let one carry you over a cliff or into a creek.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    This problem will only be a hazard in places where there is cold, dry snow over the firm atmospheric river (AR) crust. If the slope is scoured or there isn’t much recent snow, this won’t be an issue. Expect the surface to become wet and sticky throughout the day. Snow falling from trees and rocks could cause piles of rollerballs and even small slides. These are often the first clues, the snowpack is turning, and wet loose slides often follow. 

    In some areas, natural loose avalanches may occur. These will be most common below rocky faces and in very steep terrain. Elsewhere, you might trigger one of these slides. Ultimately, how big and scary the avalanche becomes depends on how much snow sits over the crust and the length of the slope. Areas with more snow or longer slopes equal larger and more dangerous avalanches. Wet loose slides on Tuesday traveled easily over the crust and ran the entire length of the slopes. 

    A bit of sunshine and mild weather, may have already started to change southerly slopes. As a result, don’t be surprised if you see the most wet loose activity on other slopes like NE-E and W-NW. At this time of year, wet snow could wrap around the entire compass dial.

    (4/1/2025)

    This avalanche started as a very small wind slab, but then entrained snow more like a wet loose. It ran for more than 300 vertical feet and buried a recent ski track. NNE, 6300ft, WL-ASc-D1-R1-S

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

After a week of generally cool, mostly cloudy, and showery weather, we’re in for a change. Sunshine and warm temperatures should persist for a few days. This will be a switch for all the recent snow. Since last Thursday (3/27), many areas received more than a foot of snow at middle elevations, mostly through a shower here and a shower there. 

We’re mainly worried about this recent snow over the AR crust. However, lingering cornices and blocks of snow clinging to rocks could fail as temperatures rise. This could become more of a concern as freezing levels continue to rise over the next few days. Pay attention to what’s above you and don’t linger under these overhead hazards. 

Wind slabs were fairly common the past few days. While the mild weather should help them heal quickly, you may trigger an isolated slide on an unsupported wind loaded slope or in very steep terrain. 

At lower elevations, the snowpack has taken quite the hit recently. There’s just much less recent snow to create any issues. Only the upper few hundred feet may have an avalanche hazard. Lower, creeks are opening, bare ground is emerging, and tree debris is melting out. Travel is becoming more difficult down in the forest.

Regions covered