Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

An impressive week of significant snow, fluctuating temperatures, and very strong winds helped build the snowpack. However, it’s also left us with a lot of questions. Give the snowpack time to adjust to all the rapid change by sticking to simpler slopes and smaller terrain features.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Near constant precipitation since Friday, 12/5, undoubtedly left the snowpack with numerous interstorm layers and maybe even a few crusts. Other than the fact that a smattering of natural avalanches occurred on Tuesday, 12/9, we don’t know much about the snow structure. Sustained periods of strong and gusty winds and reports of facets above a crust prior to all the recent snow, only complicate the matter. 

    You could be dealing with avalanches that fail from a few inches to more than 4 feet deep.  While small slopes and quick hand pits might assess recently formed storm layers, they won't tell you everything you need to know and could lead you into a false sense of security. 

    When snow gets complicated, terrain gets simple. Small, planar, and low consequence slopes can help reduce your risk. The snowpack needs time to heal, and we all need a moment to gain information about conditions.

    (12/9/2025)

    Large natural avalanche out of the Liberty Bells. This slide likely occurred early on Tuesday (12/9/25).

    Photo: Will Govus

  • Loose Wet

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

    Even as temperatures cool, it will take a bit for the wet avalanche hazard to abate, especially at lower elevations. If the snow is wet and sloppy,  you may trigger an avalanche on steep slopes. Fortunately, the snowpack at lower elevations is relatively thin. This should limit the size of any slide. However, if you go for a ride, there are plenty of trees, rocks, and bushes to hit.

    (12/9/2025)

    Large natural avalanche off of Cutthroat Peak. This slide likely occurred early on Tuesday (12/9/25).

    Photo: Will Govus

Avalanche Discussion

A period of warmer, wet weather on Wednesday night could prolong very dangerous avalanche conditions and result in another round of natural slides. However, cooling temperatures and less precipitation should allow the avalanche danger to decrease on Thursday. 

It’s been an impressive week in the East North zone, where cold air managed to hold on for dear life against the warm temperatures from a pair of Atmospheric Rivers. While nearly every other zone lost snow, the East North’s snowpack grew. Weather stations show an increase of 30 to 50 inches! 

It wasn’t all cold and snowy. One report on Wednesday indicated rain managed to reach near the Hairpin (5200ft) at Washington Pass as “sheets of rain fell.” During the only break in the storm on Tuesday, several observations from Hwy 20 and Harts Pass reported avalanches hitting the road and, in some cases, spanning elevation bands. 

One big question mark is the potential for facets sitting over a crust, now likely buried 3 feet or more deep in the snowpack. These weak grains were well documented earlier this month. If they produce slides, they could be very large, dangerous, and potentially wrap terrain features.  

Even though there’s plenty of snow up high, the warm weather hasn’t favored the low elevations. Expect thin coverage with lots of early-season obstacles. 

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.

Regions covered