Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The chance for blocks of snow to randomly shed from rocks or cornices won’t stop on a dime. While these avalanches are unlikely, you don’t want to be underneath if a blob of snow decides to let go. Pay attention to what’s above you and don’t hangout below these features.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    There isn’t a good problem to classify the avalanche concerns on Monday. Until the snowpack “locks up” you could see snow continue to shed off very steep slopes, rocks, and corniced ridges. These slides could include wet loose, glides, and cornice avalanches. 

    While not overly scary, it’s also not generally safe. This isn’t a problem you can easily assess or predict. So, the best thing to do is just identify these potential overhead hazards and then don’t spend any more time than needed underneath them.

    (3/2/2025)

    Example: Snow precariously hanging to a rocky ledge with a waterfall running down the middle.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

It always takes a bit for wet avalanche issue to fully work their way out of the snowpack, particularly without a solid freeze. While a crust formed in some areas of the zone, it didn’t in others. It’s hard to say if that will change Sunday night. If the skies clear a bit, the surface may cool resulting in a more widespread crust. If it stays cloudy, the surface may remain wet and soft. Either way, it doesn’t look like it will freeze solid except at upper elevations. 

The sweet spot for possible avalanches seems to be right in the middle where it’s not cold enough to help the snow surface freeze, but not so low that the snowpack is fully beaten up and played out. 

Occasional precipitation should continue across the zone. Above the rain-snow line, there shouldn’t be enough accumulation to actually develop a problem. The one exception could be near Mt Saint Helens where 3-6 inches of new snow could drift into small shallow wind slabs. At lower elevations, rain on an already wet snowpack won’t change much. If the snow surface is soft, you may push snow into a very small wet loose slide. These avalanches should grow large enough or run far enough to be any real danger. 

As of writing Sunday afternoon, information from the zone is limited. A breakable crust was reported in the Crystal backcountry above 5500 ft on most slopes. Meanwhile, conditions remained wet and soft near Paradise on Mt Rainier. Given the mild and drippy weather Sunday, any dry snow would probably be isolated to the higher elevation shaded locations.

Regions covered