Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger is Low where you encounter a solid crust. If you're sinking deep into wet snow, there's still a small chance that you could trigger a wet avalanche, most likely on very steep, unsupported features on the southern half of the compass. Beware of falling cornices or snow chunks breaking free from their steep, rocky perches during this unprecedented warm weather. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Peak wet avalanche activity occurred earlier this week, though sustained wet snow has kept us on alert for continued wet avalanches. A freeze Wednesday night probably helped limit avalanche activity on most slopes.

    Unseasonably warm temperatures and sunny skies Friday will likely result in softening on steep southerly aspects again. While most of the snowpack has adjusted to wetting, human-triggered wet loose avalanches remain possible on sun-softened slopes, especially approaching or exceeding 40°. Avalanches may be easier to trigger where snow is thin over smooth rock or on unsupported slopes sitting above steeper terrain or cliffs.

    If you’re sinking several inches into mushy snow, it’s a good signal to avoid steep slopes and shift to shaded or lower-angle terrain. Use extra caution around terrain traps, where even a small avalanche could push you into rocks, trees, creeks, or over a cliff.

    (2/4/2026)

    Rollerballs and a small wet loose avalanche on a south facing slope at 5500' on the west end of Teebone Ridge. On steep, unsupported terrain you might be able to trigger similar avalanches on Friday. 

    Photo: Lee Lazzara

Avalanche Discussion

Freezing levels peaked on Thursday, with over half the weather stations around the zone reaching 60°. We finally saw predominantly clear skies, and there was confirmation that snow surfaces froze Wednesday night, a positive step towards reaching a spring diurnal cycle.

We've got one more day with slightly cooler temperatures and possibly a few more clouds, before precipitation comes into the picture on Saturday. The precipitation will start as rain in all but the upper elevations, but temperatures will continuously cool to more seasonable levels by Sunday. 

A team that's been in the Baker backcountry all week while the highway was closed reported a solid freeze Wednesday night and softening on steep southerly slopes on Thursday. They expected to see avalanches, given how soggy the snow got, but it never came to fruition.

A forecaster went to the Monogram Lake area on Wednesday. Snowlines were painfully high (4500ft), and snow was soggy above that. There were a few signs of old wet avalanches from earlier in the week, but overall, the snow was stubborn and resisted sliding even on steep slopes. 

Regions covered