Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

With a mild and sunny day on tap, use caution when traveling below sunny cliff bands with overhanging blocks or where small wet loose avalanches might release.  Watch for signs of recently drifted and firmer snow on atypical aspects following several days of northerly ridgeline winds. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wednesday will be the warmest day this week.  Despite the mild weather and sunshine,  firm surfaces and a lack of soft snow on southerly aspects probably means we won't see widespread wet loose avalanches.  Think about your overhead hazard while you're moving around, especially at mid and upper elevations, keeping an eye out for hanging blocks of snow that could shed off of rock faces or small wet loose avalanches that release in specific areas like below sunny cliff bands.   If you find surface crusts breaking down on steep sunny aspects and you're sinking in more than a few inches deep,  shift to cooler aspects or shadier terrain.   A thinner snowpack and cooler temperatures at low elevations will likely further limit wet loose avalanches in this elevation band. 

    (3/15/2024)

    Reynolds Peak with small wet loose slides

    Photo: Willie Webster

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Ridgeline winds are expected to ease into the light to moderate range Tuesday night and Wednesday.  This is on the heels of several days of northerly winds that may have formed shallow wind slabs on unusual aspects at upper elevations.  They're likely becoming unreactive after several days but in isolated areas, may be easier to trigger and break wider than you expect where they've layered over weaker older snow and a firm crust. 

    Avalanches in recently drifted snow should be small. Use caution below ridgelines,  near rocky chutes, and generally leeward slopes over 35 degrees where you see deeper drifts of wind-affected snow.  If you see shooting cracks or recent avalanches, steer around similar wind-loaded slopes. 

    (1/3/2025)

    A small skier triggered avalanche on a leeward slope on Delancey Ridge.

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

Mid-mountain and upper elevation temperatures inched above freezing Monday, and took a bigger step on Tuesday with highs in the mid 30s to mid 40s.  After a mild Tuesday night (with strong inversions and much colder temperatures below 5000'), we should see the warmest temperatures of the week on Wednesday along with mostly sunny skies.   Before this stretch of dry weather, snow from last weekend fell on a firm crust (south facing) or weak facets and surface hoar (shaded slopes).  Even at the Cascade crest where we saw slightly higher snow totals, there wasn't enough new snow for this new interface (1/10) to be overly problematic.  On Saturday, observers reported triggering two small wind slab avalanches in Varden Creek and Willow Creek, both roughly NW, 6,500ft. Several older layers still exist in the snowpack. Near the Cascade crest, the most consistent has been the 1/1 interface where surface hoar was buried by 4-6 inches (10-15cm). Snowpack tests have been inconsistent on the layer. While we generally don’t expect avalanches on this layer, you can’t write off an isolated slab failing on this interface. 

If you're out in the mountains,  share what you see and submit an observation. 

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