Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Sun, warm temperatures, and a lack of freeze will maintain heightened avalanche danger. Don't linger under cornices or on steep, sunny slopes with wet snow. While the chances of being caught in an avalanche on Thursday aren't significant, a cornice fall related slide could easily be big enough to kill you.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Don't travel on or linger under overhung cornices. They typically fall with warming, and can do so without obvious warning signs. If you see or hear cornices falling, take extra care to avoid being under others. They're currently big enough to kill you on their own, and they could also trigger a larger avalanche. Similarly, watch for snow falling off large rock features. While glide avalanches are less likely, it's worth keeping them in mind.

    (1/14/2026)

    A deep crown in wind-loaded terrain from a natural avalanche cycle on Jan 12th. Also note the large cornices that still loom. Hairpin Valley, NE, 7,400ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

  • Loose Wet

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

    You may be able to trigger wet, loose avalanches in areas with unsupportive, wet snow. This is most likely on the most sun-exposed slopes at upper elevations. Check how thick and frozen surface crusts are as you move through the mountains. If you see rollerballs, recent avalanches, or weak, wet snow, move to lower-angle or more shaded terrain.

    (1/14/2026)

    Loose wet avalanches, broken cornices, and wind features. Hinkhouse Peak. S, 7,400ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

On Tuesday and Wednesday, observers cataloged recent avalanche activity and reported thick surface crusts. An NWAC forecaster found the crust was frozen and dry, but not fully supportive to boots. The upper snowpack, while moist, hadn't undergone much change due to the small amount of rainwater. Travel conditions were decent for snowshoes, ok for snowmobiles, and very bad for skis, snowboards, and snow skates.

About .8" of rain on the 12th kicked off a widespread natural wet avalanche cycle in the Washington Pass and Hart Pass areas. Observers reported many large avalanches; slabs, wet loose, and debris from falling cornices. While it's not confirmed, we suspect that many of the slab avalanches occurred on existing storm/wind slab interfaces from the week prior.

Prior to the rain event on the 12th, observers reported avalanches and signs of instability in wind-loaded terrain that involved some or all (2ft) of the recent storm snow, and occasionally breaking on the New Year's (1/2) crust. Moving forward with prolonged warming at upper elevations raises some questions. Wet slab avalanches and their timing are difficult to forecast. While they are unlikely for Thursday, it's worth keeping these dangerous avalanches in mind.

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