Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Freshly formed wind slabs will continue to strain a tricky and unstable snowpack. Buried weak layers, wind-drifted snow, and warming temperatures all have the potential to produce avalanches. Limit your time traveling on large, steep slopes, especially with freshly formed wind drifts, and watch for warning signs such as shooting cracks and collapsing underfoot. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Persistent slab avalanche activity is likely on Wednesday as fresh wind drifts add some extra weight to the mix. Here are the facts: In the last 48 hours, numerous large avalanches have failed on the buried 2/13 and 2/7 weak layers in the West South. We know these weak layers exist and will only be more strained with wind-loaded snow and warming temperatures. Unfortunately, these types of avalanches are very difficult to predict when and where they will happen. Your standard small test slopes won't work well with identifying this problem, and not seeing avalanche activity doesn't mean a slope won't release. Long shooting cracks, audible collapsing underfoot, and recent avalanche activity are nature's giveaways that the snowpack is unstable, but avalanches can still happen without these signs.

    To mitigate your risk, choose the proper terrain. Minimize your time and exposure to steep slopes, and use appropriate travel techniques in consequential terrain. Steer clear of ridgelines, cliff bands, and rocky terrain where a new wind slab could step down to weak layers below. 

    (2/24/2026)

    A natural, very large (D3) persistent slab that released over 800 feet wide. This avalanche failed on the 2/13 buried surface hoar.

    Photo: Crystal Mountain Pro Patrol

  • Loose Wet

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

    The sun is expected to pop out on Wednesday, and with it comes a rise in wet avalanche activity. There is plenty of recent dry snow out there, and it won't take long for sunny surfaces to turn damp and sticky. Watch for snow shedding off of rocks and trees, fresh roller balls, or small point-release avalanches as indicators of rising avalanche danger. As the day heats up, consider shifting to shadier slopes.

    (2/11/2026)

    Natural rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches. These likely occurred as blobs of snow fell off the rocks and trees above. S, 6000ft, WL-N-R1-D1-S

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday brought another round of significant avalanche activity in the West South. Crystal Mountain Pro Patrol reported a natural, very large (D3) avalanche that propagated over 800 feet wide, along with many large remote and explosive-triggered avalanches, all failing on the 2/13 buried surface hoar. NWAC forecasters in the Cement Basin area experienced numerous whumphfs, long shooting cracks, and continually unstable test results on the 2/7 and 2/13 interfaces. And from further south, White Pass Pro Patrol remotely triggered multiple avalanches from the ridgeline in the White Pass backcountry. 

The message is clear: the snowpack remains weak and capable of producing large avalanches wherever these buried weak layers exist. We should continue to dial it back and let the snowpack adjust to the recent changes. 

There will be two major weather changes on Wednesday: wind and sunshine. Wind speeds are expected to increase overnight into Wednesday, likely creating fresh wind drifts and slabs along ridges, cliff bands, and leeward-facing slopes. Clearer skies will let in more sunlight and may spike wet avalanche activity on sun-exposed slopes. 

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