Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Cooling temperatures, fresh wind, and moderate winds will drift snow into fresh slabs where you could trigger an avalanche. Steep terrain below corniced ridgelines and the base of cliffs are likely places for these unstable slabs to exist. Long shooting cracks and actively blowing snow are signs to travel around steep slopes and convexities.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    More snow and wind overnight on Saturday will continue to build wind slabs on lee aspects. The most suspect slopes are steep terrain beneath ridgelines and at the bases of cliffs. Wind slabs may be up to 10" deep, easily enough to sweep you downhill and potentially bury you. In addition, before this storm, some older wind slabs formed over weak snow on the 1/28 crust. Avalanches that fail on or step down to this layer could be large. Look for long shooting cracks on small test slopes as bullseye signs that you could trigger an avalanche in larger, steeper terrain. Consider choosing lower angle or sheltered terrain. 

    There is significant uncertainty about whether or where you could trigger an avalanche on the 1/28 layer. We expect the weak snowpack structure may have spotty distribution, but most likely found at upper elevations on northerly and easterly aspects. The last documented avalanche on this layer occurred on Wednesday, but fresh snow and additional wind-loading could make it easier to trigger. Consider the consequences of triggering an avalanche larger than expected before committing to consequential terrain features. 

    (2/4/2026)

    An intentionally triggered wind slab that ran on the 1/28 crust ~16" (40cm) below the surface. Size D1.5. Swamp Creek, 7,500ft, ESS-ASc-D1.5-O

    Photo: NCH

Avalanche Discussion

Washington Pass stayed below freezing and picked up a couple inches of snow on Saturday. It appears the zone will miss most of the rain, except for areas closer to the crest. A welcome cooling trend will further lower temperatures and snow levels overnight on Saturday. Sunday should see a break in the weather, potentially with sun breaks in the afternoon. We don't expect it to go full bluebird, but there's always a healthy amount of uncertainty in cloud forecasts. With that in mind, expect that loose avalanches of the wet or dry variety may be possible with more prolonged sun breaks. Move to shady slopes or out from under steep overhead rocks or cliffs with fresh snow if you begin to see rollerballs or small natural loose slides.

There is now 10-12" of snow over the January 28th interface. During the prolonged warm, sunny weather, a natural wet avalanche cycle occurred, and surface crusts formed on sunny slopes. Despite the warm temperatures, shady northern aspects retained cold, dry snow or formed only very thin surface crusts. Weak faceted snow above the 1/28 crust was likely the weak layer in an intentionally triggered slab avalanche on the E aspect of Tower Mt.  However, further snowpack investigations across multiple areas didn't identify the same weak layer. Potentially indicating that this layer is not widespread or consistent in the terrain. 

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