Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Cooler temperatures and windy conditions will minimize wet snow avalanche concerns from the past few days.  The one exception is glide avalanches, which can release in isolated areas even after the initial cooling period.  Put a buffer when traveling near or below smooth, steep, rocky terrain where glides may release without warning.   

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Below-freezing temperatures and winds will lock up most wet snow surfaces later tonight through much of Tuesday.  You're likely to find a new crust on most surfaces, as previously wet or moist snow refreezes.  The refreeze should bring an end to the drip-drip of wet loose avalanches that we've seen since last Thursday afternoon.  However, we're just coming out of a 3-day stretch with temperatures well above freezing in all elevation bands.  That can be a recipe for hard-to-predict glide avalanches that stretch on for another day or so after the initial cooling-off period.

    To be safe, look up and assess the slopes you're traveling near or under.  Give yourself a healthy buffer while traveling in known glide terrain, anywhere you see glide cracks (the brown frown), or just blocks of snow clinging to steep rocky terrain.  Blocks of snow often release without warning.   

    When traveling along corniced ridgelines, make sure to leave a healthy buffer on the edge.  They can surprise travelers by breaking further back than you expect. 

    (3/23/2026)

    From an earlier glide cycle in March: 

    Rock slabs exposed by recent glide avalanches on the south side of Sefrit. Southwest aspect at 6400 feet.

    Photo: Lee Lazzara

Avalanche Discussion

Monday was the 3rd day of unseasonally warm temperatures for early April, with overnight lows well above freezing and afternoon highs in the upper 40s to low 60s.   NWAC forecasters in the neighboring West North zone found surface crusts breaking down quickly and the snow becoming wet and mushy on southerlies on Goat Mt.  A stiff breeze likely helped limit wet loose activity at higher elevations and windward aspects.  Wet loose avalanches started Thursday afternoon and have been reported in drips and drabs over the last few days.   

A forecaster on their day off was enjoying a rest with views on Saturday when they witnessed a natural avalanche cycle just north of Snoqualmie Pass in the southern portions of the West Central zone. At least some of the activity appeared to have initiated from cornice fall (media gallery).  Previously, there were a handful of natural and human-triggered slab avalanches that failed about a foot deep in upper-elevation, shaded terrain in the neighboring West North zone. We suspect any weaknesses to have healed by now, but if you're high in the alpine, information is limited and you should test for any weakness in shallower dry layers as you climb higher. 

There is hardly any snow below 3500'.   Be prepared for inconsistent snow coverage until you're above 4000-4500', and even then, it's aspect dependent. 

Regions covered