Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

We suspect avalanches will be more difficult to trigger, but with weak layers lurking in our snowpack, there is always uncertainty. You'll still want to avoid steep slopes below ridgelines with stiff wind drifts where avalanches may break widely across terrain. With this tricky avalanche problem, choosing sheltered lower-angle terrain reduces your exposure. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Persistent slab avalanches can be very large and potentially break widely across terrain features. While avalanches may be harder to trigger on Tuesday, given the high-consequence nature of this problem, it's best to avoid large, open, steep terrain. Wind-loaded slopes with stiff, textured drifts remain the most likely location for this problem. But it's worth treating most steep slopes with suspicion. Keep your distance from these features and stay well clear of cornices, which could fail, potentially triggering large avalanches on the slopes below.

    Many of these avalanches occurred on southern aspects, and warming could have contributed to the increased avalanche activity. We expect cloud cover to help reduce activity on steep, sunny aspects, but light rain or wet snow could produce avalanches in more sheltered terrain. Given the high consequences, it's worth staying diligently conservative and choosing smaller terrain with lower slope angles. 

    (2/28/2026)

    A widely propagating natural avalanche below Cutthroat Peak. This avalanche is suspected to have failed on weak snow over the 2/7 crust. 7000ft, S-SW aspectN-R4-D2.5-O 

    Photo: NCH

  • Loose Wet

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

    Some light rain might be enough for small wet loose avalanches in steep, sheltered northerly terrain. Recently formed surface crusts and widespread wind-stiffened snow will likely limit wet avalanche activity on southern and more exposed terrain. Rollerballs are the first sign of wet avalanches, and while most will be smaller point releases on steep slopes, there is a chance of them triggering a persistent slab. You can avoid wet avalanches by moving to low-angle slopes as surfaces become wet. 

    (1/14/2026)

    An example of loose wet avalanches, broken cornices from January. Hinkhouse Peak. S, 7,400ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

We expect avalanche activity to be on the downtrend with cooling and just very light precipitation. But the chance of being surprised exists, so choose smaller terrain and limit your exposure to large overhead slopes.

Since midweek, there's been a widespread cycle of natural and triggered avalanches in the East North zone. On the 28th, observers reported widespread natural avalanches, and an individual was partially buried in a large avalanche in wind-loaded terrain. We suspect that the weak, faceted snow over the 2/7 crust is the culprit in many of these occurrences. Many avalanches over the last week have been large to very large, and some have had wide crowns. Some avalanches were shallower, more typical of wind slabs at the base of cliffs. 

1-2 feet below the surface is a weak layer over a crust (February 7th). Immediately above the crust are weak faceted grains and, in some places, surface hoar. The January 28th crust is thicker and another 6-12" deeper.  On southerly aspects, there are more crusts and less dry, weak snow on the surface. West of Washington Pass, overall, the layers will be deeper, with thicker crusts and more snow between them. Further north and east, in places like Hart's Pass and the Chewuch and Twisp River drainages, the snowpack is shallower and weaker. We have little recent information in the eastern mountains and suspect a very weak snowpack.

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