Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Don't try to outsmart overlapping wet snow problems during this extended warm stretch.  Until conditions cool, put a large buffer between you and large avalanche paths and other overhead hazards like overhanging cornices.   

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    The likelihood of avalanches should be ticking downward on Wednesday, but with several overlapping wet snow problems, your best bet is to avoid steep slopes and put a large buffer between you and large avalanche paths or other overhead hazards on Wednesday. This isn't a very satisfying message, but with temperatures staying above freezing Tuesday night and Wednesday, along with a strong spring sun, water will continue to move through the snowpack, maintaining the potential for large and destructive wet snow avalanches. 

    Wet slab and glide avalanches may release without warning on any aspect.  Cornice fall may trigger large avalanches on the slopes below.  Make sure you understand the terrain you're connected to even at lower elevations; very large avalanches that start from higher start zones may run to lower elevations.  Creeks, glide cracks and holes are opening up at lower and mid-elevations, don't let an avalanche push you into one of these terrain traps. 

    (3/25/2025)

    It doesn't look like there's any terrain that's been untouched by avalanches in this photo. E, 6500ft, Monte Cristo area. 

    Photo: Irene Henninger

Avalanche Discussion

Over 6-8" of water was recorded in the Mt Loop area over the last 6 days.  This storm cycle started cool and snowy and ended warm and rainy with an atmospheric river finally wrapping up early Tuesday morning.  NWAC Forecasters in the Monte Cristo area found evidence of the recent natural cycle with large to very large avalanches visible in the surrounding terrain but no new activity during the day.  Creeks were running full bore and the weather was definitely hot.  

Further north, Mt Baker pro patrol observed new and recent wet snow avalanches (wet slab, wet loose, glide cracks, and cornice fall) in their surrounding backcountry terrain, some large, on Wednesday.  Large to very large wet snow avalanches have been observed in almost every Cascade zone (see impressive West Central photos in gallery) over the last few days.  After a glorious first few weeks of March with plenty of powder, our snowpack has decreased 10-20" over the last 2 days in many locations. Snow doesn't like rapid change so give the snowpack some time to settle, we're going to need a proper cool-down to help lock down this wet snowpack.  

If you plan to stay out late in the mountains on Wednesday, keep an eye on the weather forecast and the skies. Heavy showers and thunderstorms may move in during the afternoon or overnight period. Make sure to have a safe exit plan or place to shelter if storms become intense. 

Regions covered