Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Loose snow avalanches and wind-drifted slabs are again on the menu. Avalanche activity has been limited despite plenty of backcountry traffic, but instability remains, and people have triggered avalanches large enough to carry them down the hill. Avoid steep slopes holding wind-drifted snow. Avalanche danger could increase quickly if strong winds arrive earlier than forecast.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Lots of steep lines were ridden on Saturday with nary a problem. But there were enough folks out there that a few found slab avalanches in areas that had some amount of wind loading. 

    While these slab should gain strength, increasing winds in the afternoon ahead of the next storm should get snow moving again and build some fresh slabs. All reported slab avalanhces were just about at the mid-upper elevation boundary of 5500 feet. Expect something similar on Sunday.

    Drifting snow will be the main sign of active transport. If the wind isn’t blowing, look for cornices, scoured slopes, and other clues to identify slopes holding wind-drifted snow. Monitor snow depth and stiffness over the crust just below as you gain elevation and change aspects. Small test slopes, hand pits, and other simple tests can help you gauge the bond of new wind slab layers.

    (3/14/2026)

    Fresh skier-triggered wind slab on Table Mountain. East aspect at 5400 feet.

    (SS-D1-AS-I)

    Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mountain Ascents

  • Loose Dry

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

    The snow surface has stayed loose and unconsolidated in areas that haven’t seen wind transport and slab formation. With a crust not to far below the recent new snow, loose snow avalanches have run bigger, faster and farther than normal. The uppermost layer of snow will continue to gain a bit more cohesion with each day, but loose snow avalanches large enough to take you for a ride are still a concern in very steep terrain.

    Expect to push some snow downhill with you as you descend or traverse steep slopes. Natural loose dry avalanches are also possible below cliffs and other very steep features. These sluffs are unlikely to bury you, but could push you around or carry you somewhere you don’t want to go.

    (3/14/2026)

    D1.5 Loose avalanche with unknown release time. Canyon Creek. Southwest aspect at 5400 feet. 

     

Avalanche Discussion

It was an interesting day in the mountains, with a range of avalanche danger depending on where you chose to play in the snow. An NWAC forecaster in Canyon Creek found no signs of wind effect and a handful of recent natural loose snow avalanches.

In the Baker Backcountry, two separate incidents occurred in which people were caught in loose dry avalanches and carried a short distance. No injuries were reported. A backcountry traveler high on Table Mountain triggered a small, fresh wind slab on a very steep east aspect at roughly 5,500 feet.

The most notable avalanches occurred on Shuksan Arm. In addition to smaller slabs in extremely steep terrain, one party triggered a widely propagating slab that released above a deeper crust layer buried on March 8. Further details are scarce, but this avalanche shows that there is still residual instability at recently buried crust layers. The main ingredient missing on most slopes is a slab stiff enough to propagate a fracture.

With rain on the horizon up into upper elevations, it’s probably not worth diving into the nuances of snowpack structure. The main takeaway is that most slopes are stable, but if you find slightly stiffer snow, you should be on guard. Pick lines with minimal consequences in the runout below in case you get taken by surprise. 

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