Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

While conditions are generally safe in most avalanche terrain, you may find isolated areas of unstable snow or small avalanches in extreme terrain. On very steep slopes, you could trigger small loose avalanches in the surface snow. You may also be able to trigger small pockets of older wind slabs around steep rocks and cliffs at the highest elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    After another mellow day with light winds and cold temperatures, lingering wind slabs are difficult to trigger. Consider the potential of wind slabs in very steep terrain where even small avalanches could carry consequences.  Before committing to more aggressive slopes, use small, less consequential features to see how the wind-affected snow reacts. Visual clues, such as cornice formations and textured surfaces, can help identify wind-loaded terrain.  Cracking or small slabs of snow breaking loose on test slopes indicate you could trigger an avalanche.

    (12/30/2024)

    Example of cracking in wind drifted snow.

    Photo: Adam Butterfield

Avalanche Discussion

The new year will continue with another cold day of light winds and a chance for a dusting of snow. At Washington Pass, temperatures will remain cold after a low in the single digits on the 31st. Expect weakening snow surfaces and the potential for small, loose dry avalanches in steep terrain. While loose avalanches are more predictable, be careful to stay out of your sluff and don't trigger it onto your backcountry partners. 

Most observers report minimal signs of instability in the Washington Pass area. On the 1st, observers found 1" of new snow that buried widespread surface hoar. There have been reports of isolated cracking. On the 1st, one small wind slab avalanche (D1, NE, 6,392ft) was triggered in a basin southwest of Blue Lake. Observers on Silverstar Mountain reported significant wind-affected snow at upper elevations, but no signs of instability. Elsewhere, observers have found plenty of soft snow on the surface.

Snow totals throughout this week are between 2-4 feet above 4000ft. Near Washington Pass, a thin crust buried around the Solstice can typically be found about 2 feet below the surface with snowpack depths averaging 5 feet.  Last Thursday and Friday, observers in the Twisp River drainage found a relatively strong snowpack, though still shallower than at the Cascade crest. There was 70-100cm of snow on the ground near 3,000ft, and depths increased with elevation. In the foothills and eastern portion of the zone, you may find more weak layers than at the Cascade crest and snow depths roughly of 2-3 feet. Pay attention to red flag signs of instability, such as whumping collapses, and consider digging down to identify potential weak layers. The Loup Loup area has a relatively robust snowpack compared to many years, though still shallow compared to further west. 

You can contribute to the avalanche forecast. Please let us know what you see in the mountains by submitting an observation. 

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