Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Direct sunlight and continued warming will produce heightened avalanche danger on Wednesday. Your chances of triggering an avalanche will increase as the day progresses, and sun exposed slopes heat up. When the surface snow begins to feel heavy and sticky, move to less sunny slopes, or lower angle terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wet avalanche activity will be minimal to nonexistent during the early morning on Wednesday. However, as the sun emerges and temperatures rise, expect wet avalanche activity to increase. Valley temperature inversions may keep low elevations slightly cooler than mid and upper elevations, meaning you may find worsening avalanche conditions as you climb in elevation. Do not expect to climb out of the warm temperatures, freezing levels will be thousands of feet above the upper elevation band. Elevated wind and low January sun angle could help to minimize warming issues.

    Thankfully, sun-driven wet avalanche activity often provides warning signs as conditions deteriorate. Rollerballs, pinwheels, point-release avalanches, and snow shedding from rocks all indicate an increasing wet avalanche problem. If you begin sinking into soft, mushy snow or observe wet avalanche activity, move to shadier aspects or lower-angle terrain. Be especially cautious of snow shedding from small features above you, as even minor releases can hurt or bury.

    (1/13/2026)

    Roller balls and small, wet loose avalanche activity near White Pass.

    Photo: White Pass Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday marked the first full day of sunshine and warming temperatures in the West South zone. Unfortunately, a similar weather pattern looks to persist for at least the next few days. Despite temperatures climbing into the 50s F at 5,000 feet, reported wet snow instabilities were minimal. Most areas found increasing rollerballs and the occasional small wet loose avalanche, but nothing large or destructive. An icy surface crust was also noted in the early morning around Paradise and White Pass. As warming continues into Wednesday, wet avalanches could become a greater concern, especially during the warmest part of the day.

Winds will increase slightly on Wednesday, though we do not expect significant snow transport or slab development. That said, in isolated areas of dry snow, primarily at upper elevations on the southern end of the zone, small pockets of unstable wind-drifted snow could develop. Everywhere else, increased winds may help cool snow surfaces and slow daytime warming.

It's sad to say, but the warm temperatures are certainly lowering snow coverage across the zone. Across all of NWAC's weather stations, every one has recorded net loss of snow in the last 48 hours. Expect rocks, stumps, and other earthly objects to gradually return to the surface, along with widening rivers, and weakening snow bridges. This along with generally poor snow conditions could make travel a little more complicated, and less fun.

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