Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Dangerous avalanche conditions and blizzard-like conditions will develop, with peak instability by midday. You will easily trigger avalanches on steep slopes, especially where strong winds form deep drifts. Avoid traveling in steep, wind-exposed terrain. Your best option is to stick to low-angle slopes within forested areas to avoid triggering a large, consequential avalanche. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs will be widespread and very easy to trigger. With strong to extreme wind speeds, you should expect to find wind slabs developing in any open terrain throughout the zone. While ridgelines are the primary locations, steep convex rolls, gullies, and cross-loaded open slopes will all be dangerous on Tuesday.  Even in sheltered locations, sensitive storm slab conditions could develop with high precipitation rates.

    Avoid steep terrain, especially in wind-affected areas, where avalanches will be larger and easier to trigger. This isn't a day to try to outsmart the avalanches. Stick to low-angle slopes in forested areas as your safest option. Natural avalanches are also on the bingo card, so don't linger in the runouts of large overhead avalanche paths. 

    An intentionally skier-triggered wind slab that occurred on Monday (1/5/2026).SS-AS-R2-D1.5-S

    Photo: Adam Butterfield

Avalanche Discussion

The change of weather patterns will be swift on Tuesday. Things may be slow to ramp up in the early morning hours, but increasing precipitation and winds will make the afternoon a proper PNW storm day. Wind speeds could peak at over 30mph, and there is potential for precipitation rates of around 1" per hour. It will not only be a dangerous day, but also an unpleasant one in exposed locations. Conservative terrain choices will be essential. 

Observers on Monday reported triggering small wind slabs near ridgelines. These avalanches were breaking on a storm interface buried 1-1.5' deep. Over the weekend, an observer found buried surface hoar in the Cutthroat drainage. We think this persistent weak layer is inconsistent and isolated, but it's more likely to exist in the eastern portion of the forecast area. No matter where you are, it's worth sticking your shovel in the snow to see if it exists 6-10" below the snow surface.  An observer near Mt. Tiffany also reported whumpfing collapses earlier last week, a potential sign of buried, persistent weak layers such as surface hoar. Natural avalanches, identifying a layer of feather-like surface hoar crystals, or feeling the snowpack collapse below you are all clear signs to avoid steep slopes. 

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