Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Likelihood is low, but a deep, very large, and unsurvivable avalanche could happen naturally or with a human trigge on Sunday. Especially as temperatures warm, avoid traveling beneath large, smooth slopes. South-facing crusts will quickly soften and become moist, and if rollerballs or small loose avalanches begin occurring, shift travel to cooler, shadier slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    A very large natural avalanche occurred unexpectedly the neighboring West North zone on Saturday.  All the other zones around the West Central zone have experienced unexpected small and large avalanches, most likely from persistent layers.  There may only be one or two in the zone, but we really aren't sure, and it's too scary to ignore. These may increase in likelihood as temperatures increase into Sunday, and wetting occurs on slopes facing the sun, impacting shallower buried weaknesses that may continue to propagate into thicker areas. 

    Identify overhead hazards where you travel. Although the likelihood is low, you may want to consider steering clear of large, steep slopes and areas beneath them at upper and mid elevations, especially as the day warms. We don't expect large or very large avalanches at lower elevations, but larger avalanches may run down to these areas. 

    (2/28/2026) A very large natural avalanche that occurred Saturday afternoon in the neighboring West North zone. Given what's been happening in all the nearby zones, one of these could also happen in the West Central zone. Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mtn Ascents

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wet loose avalanches will be possible when crusts from Saturday break down and snow gets wet.  Avalanche size will vary with how much recent snow has accumulated—expect larger, more consequential slides in areas that picked up the most new snow. Size also depends on terrain, as steep, sustained fall-line slopes can produce more powerful avalanches. But even a small wet loose avalanche can pose a serious risk if it carries you over a cliff, into a creek, or through rocks or trees. Keep track of sunny slopes overhead as the day warms.

    Example photo: Natural rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches. These likely occurred as blobs of snow fell off the rocks and trees above. Expect to see this on Sunday. 

Avalanche Discussion

On Thursday, February 26th, a skier was fully buried in an avalanche at Stevens Pass Resort. Despite a long burial time, the skier was successfully rescued by Stevens Pass Patrol and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The avalanche occurred on a wind-loaded northwest aspect near 5,3000ft and likely ran on a persistent weak layer over a crust, 15-20" deep.

Many slope testers were out on Saturday. In the neighboring West North zone, very few human-triggered avalanches were reported considering all the slope testing. Earlier this week, natural, explosive, and human-triggered avalanches in nearby areas likely failed on persistent grains, showing the structure is still capable of producing slab avalanches in isolated terrain features. There's enough uncertainty and information from neighboring zones that we've added the problem into this zone as well. 

In West North, recent snowfall exceeded the forecast, with observers reporting fresh slabs, and recent natural avalanches within the newest snow layer as the storm tapered Friday. Avalanche activity slowed, but concerns for smaller slabs that you could still trigger, especially in wind-loaded areas exist. Now we have the added uncertainty of persistent slabs that could wake up with the additional load and subsequent warming. 

Cornices could start failing, triggering slab avalanches on underlying slopes with the warm temperatures we're seeing on Sunday as well. 

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