Avalanche forecast

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day and as you gain elevation. At first, you're most likely to trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted areas, although these drifts may be hidden with unusual loading patterns during the day, before avalanches become likely even on non wind-loaded slopes. Search out and avoid thicker, wind-loaded areas, but when in doubt, or in particular as more snow falls, shift your travels away from steep slopes and to lower-angle terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    A backcountry skier unintentionally triggered and was caught in a small avalanche on Saturday in the Paradise Valley area of the Baker backcountry. They were partially buried and uninjured. It worked in their favor that the runout was smooth, so the consequences were minimal. This avalanche likely failed on a newly formed wind slab near rocky outcroppings- typical areas where wind slabs form.  There were other small slab avalanches reported in the area. Expect larger and sneakier avalanches, without obvious signs of transport, presenting themselves on Sunday. 

    Start by identifying and avoiding wind-loaded terrain. Look for blowing snow, rippled surfaces, smooth, rounded pillows, or dense, hollow-feeling snow. They frequently form in gullies- large or subtle, on rollovers, along ridgelines, or around rock features. The challenge is that these clues may be buried under fresh snow. If your plan is only to avoid obvious loading, you could still get caught — safer travel today means sticking to lower-angle terrain. Especially as you work your way higher, with more low density snow and wind-effect. 

    You may trigger an avalanche before seeing clear warning signs. Still, treat recent avalanches, long shooting cracks, and whumphs as clear signals to stay off steep slopes. Avoid traveling on steep features above terrain traps like cliffs, trees, rocks, or gullies — even a small slide has serious consequences in high-exposure terrain.

    (2/21/2026)

    A small avalanche was triggered on this small wind-loaded slope in the Baker backcountry on Saturday. Expect slab sizes to increase, wind-affected snow to be disguised, and non wind-affected storm layers to become reactive as well on Sunday. 

    Photo: Kam DH

Avalanche Discussion

This isn’t a typical storm-slab problem for Sunday. Unusual winds over the past 48 hours have drifted very light, dry snow into unexpected places, and shifting winds plus new snowfall may now hide those slabs. In sheltered terrain, heavier new snow over lighter snow means even steep slopes without obvious wind loading could produce a surprising, dangerous avalanche.

Conditions may vary dramatically from one ridge to the next. Reassess frequently as you travel and as loading continues.

A highly variable foot of soft snow overlies denser layers across much of the zone and has become increasingly wind-affected. Observations show patches of faceted snow and surface hoar at several interfaces and near the surface, though some surface weaknesses may have been destroyed with recent wind. We still lack the deeply developed weak layers found elsewhere in the Cascades, but there’s enough fragile snow that a larger load could produce more activity than usual. Sunday’s ~6 inches may not bring widespread avalanches, but don’t assume it will behave like a typical small storm.

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