Avalanche forecast

West Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

There is plenty of new snow out there. The likelihood of triggering an avalanche is decreasing, but stay on guard if you’re considering steep slopes. Assess stability before committing to terrain steep enough to slide. When in doubt, default to lower-angle, simpler terrain.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Friday night brought more snow to usher in the weekend across the southern portion of the West Central forecast zone. Along with Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass, the area from the Mountain Loop Highway south to I-90 has seen 3 feet of snowfall with some areas getting as much as 5 feet.

    The best gauge for terrain selection will be how much new snow you find. Deep? Stick to simpler, lower-angled terrain. If amounts are more modest, assess stability using the usual tools: slope tests and other simple methods to determine how well the new snow layers are bonding. While all steep slopes have the potential to produce avalanches, convex rollovers, unsupported terrain around cliffs and rocks, and slopes below cornices are where the likelihood of triggering a slab is greater.

    Wind speeds should increase Sunday afternoon ahead of the next storm, especially at upper elevations. Look for fresh wind slabs on leeward slopes. Drifting snow will be the main sign of active transport. Monitor snow depth and stiffness as you gain elevation and change aspects. You are much more likely to trigger an avalanche on slopes with recent wind loading.

    (3/13/2026)

    Many storm slabs released on or near the 3/12 crust on Friday. 

    Photo: Summit at Snoqualmie Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Loose dry avalanches are still a concern where the uppermost layer of snow is loose and unconsolidated. Expect to push some snow downhill with you as you descend or traverse steep slopes. Natural loose dry avalanches are also possible below cliffs and other very steep features. These sluffs are unlikely to bury you, but they could push you around or carry you somewhere you don’t want to go. If temperatures warm more or faster than expected, you could start seeing early signs of wet avalanche activity like rollerballs, snow shedding from trees, or very small loose snow avalanches.

It was another day of varying conditions around the Cascades, with interesting activity just about everywhere. Stevens Pass remained closed, so no information has come from that zone other than reports that highway avalanche control work produced large slides that reached Highway 2—a prime example of why WSDOT crews perform avalanche control above certain roads.

A combination of loose snow and slab avalanches was reported from West North, with a few people caught and carried in both types; no injuries were reported. Despite these incidents, backcountry traffic in steep terrain was widespread, showing that while most slopes are currently stable, instability remains in select locations.

 

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