Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You can trigger a slab avalanche on any steep slope where more than 6-8 inches of new snow has accumulated. Larger avalanches might be found on slopes accumulating wind-drifted snow. Expect windy weather and blowing snow if heading into the alpine. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    A few inches of snow in the forecast turned into nearly a foot around the Baker Backcountry, with small slab avalanches easily triggered on a variety of aspects. Another 3–6 inches is forecast for Friday. Expect similar or deeper snow farther west in the zone, such as Schriebers, and less to the east in and near North Cascades National Park. You are more likely to trigger a larger slab on slopes with active or recent wind loading, but all slopes are suspect if there is more than a few inches of new snow.

    Track new snow depth and stiffness as you gain elevation and move between aspects, and use test slopes to evaluate how well new snow layers are bonding. Notably, slabs were more easily triggered on southerly aspects where they formed over crust than on shaded slopes that still held soft snow beneath the slab. Either way, don’t dive into steep terrain expecting good stability just because snowfall forecasts seem modest.

    (2/26/2026)

    A small human-triggered slab on the south side of Table Mt at roughly 5000 feet.

    Photo: Harrison Brickman - Bellingham Mountain Rescue

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche danger related to persistent weak layers is definitely a concern in zones to the east, south, and north (Canada) of West North. And if you look hard enough in this zone, you can likely find buried facets, surface hoar, or preserved stellar grains below one of the many layers of new snow that fell over the last few weeks. A mix of natural, explosive, and human-triggered avalanches occurred earlier in the week, and some likely failed on persistent grains.

On the other hand, reported avalanche activity here has been limited and sporadic. Signs of instability—like whumphing and shooting cracks—have not been widespread or consistently distributed, and persistent weak layers have so far been harder to find, though not impossible. So we don’t have a clear persistent slab problem—unless you find one in areas with less traffic and fewer observations. If you’re heading into less-traveled terrain, especially thinner snowpack areas closer to the Cascade Crest, you’ll need to do your own homework. If you’re headed that way this weekend, check the forecast for East North.

Observers in the Baker Backcountry found variable conditions on Thursday. Around Austin Pass and Swift Creek, there was minimal wind effect from west winds but easy-to-trigger slabs releasing within the most recent foot of new snow. In contrast, widespread wind scouring and other signs of transport were noted at Herman Saddle, especially on the Iceberg Lake side.

 

 

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