Avalanche forecast

West Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

One more day of generally warm, sunny weather will maintain the possibility of wet slides on sun-exposed slopes. With such a large zone, this hazard could peak at different points depending on your location. Keep an eye on the snow surface, and if it is getting wet and weak, head for shadier aspects. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    We've got a few days of unseasonably warm and mostly sunny days under our belts now, with only minimal wet avalanche activity reported. With freezing levels remaining elevated and sunshine expected again on Wednesday, the possibility of wet slides remains.

    As we've seen over the past few days, this problem isn't a slam dunk. The low, weak December sun will have less effect on the snow than at other times of the year. It may need to break down a surface crust before destabilizing the snow and triggering avalanches. That's a lot to ask. Additionally, we're already a few days into this pattern, which may be decreasing the likelihood. That said, take note of changes in the snow surface wherever you're out playing. If the snow is getting sticky and moist, shedding from trees or rocks, or you see fresh, fan-shaped avalanche debris, wet loose avalanches could follow, so head for shadier slopes. 

    (12/29/2025)

    Rollerballs on a sun-exposed slope near Sourdough Gap.

Avalanche Discussion

It's been a gorgeous couple of days in the mountains. On Tuesday, the diversity of our zone really shone through with a 25-degree temperature difference between White Pass and Paradise. The passes and other areas near the crest benefited from east flow, which helped keep warm temperatures at bay. In areas further west or not as prone to east flow, temperatures generally skyrocketed as we experienced our sunniest day of the week. We even hit 50 degrees on a few stations!

Expect a similar day on Wednesday, except with increasing cloud cover and the cold pool east of the crest starting to erode. That could result in less east flow and a bump in temperatures in those areas that have previously stayed cool. Maybe these areas will be the ones that see an uptick in wet avalanche activity.

While the focus is on the wet snow, if you’re pushing into higher, rocky, complex terrain, there could be a few isolated wind slabs still lingering in rocky chutes or near ridgelines. There's certainly plenty of wind effect visible on the surface.

Overall, observations suggest the snowpack is strong and well settled. We’re still keeping an eye on a few notable crusts, such as 12/24 and 12/18. Once temperatures start to dip again, the warm, moist snow on the surface will harden, forming a new surface crust. That process may have already begun in some areas.

 All the recent snow has definitely improved travel and coverage, but conditions are still thin. Open creeks, random holes, rocks, and bushes continue to make travel challenging.

Regions covered