Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You may still be able to trigger avalanches in wind-loaded terrain where westerly winds have built cornices and stiff slabs. Steer around steep, unsupported slopes where you see recent avalanches, wind-sculpted features, or thickly drifted pillows of snow. If the sun warms south-facing aspects, watch for triggering wet avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    There's plenty of light, dry snow on a variety of wind-sheltered slopes. In very steep terrain, surface snow could sluff off as a loose avalanche. As temperatures warm and skies clear, watch for sun-triggered loose avalanches on steep, southerly slopes. Use caution where avalanches can push you into rocks or off cliffs. 

    (11/30/2025)

    An example of loose avalanches on the southwest face of Tower Mtn. Point release avalanches (likely loose dry) in the foreground (right side) may've occurred on 11/28. SW, 7,000ft

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Given the recent wind, it's best to stay off unsupported wind-loaded slopes 35 degrees or steeper. Steer around convex roll-overs. Be aware of overhung cornices. Don't walk onto them or linger below them. 

    Gusty wind and light snow will subside throughout Friday. Look for recent avalanches or deeply pillowed slabs to indicate the danger. Avalanches could break into old snow layers, including on a crust that was buried around the New Year. Observers reported a couple of these bigger avalanches on Wednesday. Slides on the crust or involving all of the recent snow on leeward slopes could easily be 2-3 deep.

     

    (1/7/2026)

    Broken cornices and a very deep crown in unsupported terrain. This likely occurred on the night of Jan 6th. Cutthroat Lake area, N, 7,200ft

    Photo: NCMG

Avalanche Discussion

On the 9th, clear skies and sun warmed southerly slopes just enough to trigger roller balls and form very light crusts. Over the past couple of days, observers reported avalanches and signs of instability in wind-loaded terrain that involve all (2ft) of the recent storm snow, and even breaking on the January 3rd crust. A cycle of natural avalanches occurred on the night of the 6th, up to size D2.5. On Thursday, observers triggered an avalanche in a small wind-loaded pocket that broke 2.5 feet deep on the New Year's crust. 

The most problematic slopes are where wind-drifted slabs are resting over a robust version of the New Year's crust. Observers have noted that the crust is more pronounced at upper elevations where temperature inversions occurred. It could also vary with aspect and slope angle. There have been occasional reports of a weak layer resting on it.  A couple of observers found buried surface hoar below 5,500ft in the Cutthroat drainage, though it hasn't been found elsewhere. If you venture to upper elevations, take time to dig to the crust. Any sudden or propagating test results should be a "red flag" sign to stick to lower-angle terrain. 

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