Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche danger should peak Tuesday night during the height of the storm, but expect dangerous avalanche conditions to extend into Wednesday.  Large natural avalanches may release as strong winds continue to move significant amounts of new snow during the day.  You could trigger small avalanches in firm snow found on unusual aspects or typically sheltered areas. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    After a very stormy Tuesday night, snowfall intensity should taper down during the day.  That said, winds will continue to crank and easily move around all that fresh snow, and blowing snow will reduce visibility, impeding navigation above treeline.  The storm will likely cause a period of natural avalanche activity on Tuesday night during peak precipitation.  Continuous wind loading during the day should allow for a longer-than-normal tail of natural avalanche activity.  Wednesday is a good day to stay off large open slopes and to give a healthy buffer when traveling beneath large paths that originate in bigger terrain. 

    Periods of extreme winds may cause erratic loading patterns, forming wind slabs further downlope than usual, and even in open areas at lower elevations.  If you encounter shooting cracks in wind-stiffened snow, retreat to lower angle or more sheltered terrain.  Don't get caught offguard if you find reactive areas of wind slab at mid elevations or unusual slopes.  Going for a ride through rough terrain with exposed rocks and trees increases the risk of injury or worse. 

    (12/6/2025)

    The type of terrain you don't want to take an unplanned ride through. 

    A skier-triggered wind slab avalanche from last week near Blue Lake. 6700ft, WNW. SS-AS-D1.5-I

    Photo: Will Govus

Avalanche Discussion

As of 5pm Wednesday, new snow was piling up in the East North, with the Washington Pass snow depth jumping 12-14" since Tuesday morning.  We could see another 1-2' before it's all said and done on Wednesday.   Rain may reach up to around 5000' or so, but should stay out of the upper elevations before temperatures cool early Wednesday morning.  The mountains in this zone have withstood warm temperatures during most storms since December 5th. The snowpack grew substantially (+30-50 inches) before rain reached above 6800ft for multiple hours on 12/11.  WSDOT observers working on clearing mud and debris from the road reported thick surface crusts up to Washington Pass. They also reported a widespread natural avalanche cycle that deposited large debris piles on Hwy 20 at multiple locations. Some of these slides traveled long distances across elevation bands and carried mud, rocks, and trees. 

Flooding, washouts, and landslides have affected many communities. Expect difficult access and challenging travel at low elevations. Information has been limited to weather station data and road reports for a few days, so our confidence in the forecast is lower than usual. 

With the warm start to the 25-26 winter season, we have less snowpack information than usual to start daily forecast operations. For zones and elevation bands with less snow than needed for avalanche hazard, we will issue a forecast with No Rating. Anticipated avalanche and weather conditions will still be updated daily. NWAC will issue an avalanche danger rating for a zone when enough snow to produce avalanches has accumulated at middle and upper elevations.

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