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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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The sun and warming temperatures could set off loose avalanches on steep, southerly slopes. You may also be able to trigger avalanches below ridgelines and the base of cliffs where you find recently wind-drifted snow. Consider steering around steep terrain with deep drifts or textured surfaces. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Be aware of steep, overhead terrain and cornices. Don't linger where hazards could come down from above. Watch for typical indicators like strong sun, weak, moist snow, and natural avalanches and rollerballs. If you encounter these things, plan to move off steep, sun-exposed slopes before the snow becomes weak enough to trigger a slide.

    The sun could set off a small round of loose (dry or wet) avalanches. Check whether snow surfaces are becoming moist. If not, these avalanches could be dry. Either way, they'll be small and predictable.

     

    (2/5/2026)

    Roller balls and a small wet loose avalanche. Rainy Lake, 6,700ft, SE

    Photo: NCH

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Most wind slab avalanches won't be large, but could be dangerous near terrain traps or in consequential terrain.  Look for shooting cracks on small test slopes or stiff surface snow that slides easily in hand pits as signs to consider choosing lower-angle or sheltered terrain.

    Since the weekend, recent snow and northwest-southwesterly winds have built the latest round of shallowly drifted slabs on lee aspects. On Sunday and Monday, backcountry travelers triggered a few, mostly small avalanches. In addition to fresh shallow wind slabs, older slabs exist over weak snow on the 1/28 crust.  While becoming less likely, an avalanche on this deeper crust could be 1.5-2 feet deep. Consider the consequences of triggering a large avalanche before committing to consequential terrain. 

    (2/8/2026)

    A triggered wind slab avalanche. Snagtooth Peak (S of Silverstar) 8" thick, 50ft wide, ran 300ft

Avalanche Discussion

On Wednesday, the skies will be sunny, and temperatures will be warmer than on Tuesday. There's now 5-8" of recent snow over the 2/7 interface, which varies by aspect.  On steep, southerly aspects, it's a melt-freeze crust which would be thicker than the more common "zipper crusts" in flatter terrain. On northerly aspects and at upper elevations, the interface will be dry snow.

On the 9th, observers triggered a few more wind slab avalanches. These were shallow, involving recent snow. All occurred on the leeward sides of ridges at upper elevations, and all were small, D1-1.5. One may have run on a deeper crust, possibly from January 28th. 

The January 28th interface is buried 10-20" deep, and often shows up as a well-defined crust, though not everywhere. The crust has mostly been a non-issue. There have been a couple of larger, triggered wind slab avalanches that likely ran on this interface, notably on 2/4 (see photo below). Last week, professionals conducted extensive digging to look for a potential weak layer above the crust. At upper-elevation north-east aspects, a couple of profiles revealed either a discernible (1cm) weak layer or large (1.5mm) well-preserved stellars immediately above the crust.  In a couple of profiles, the grains were small, rounding facets. Multiple other profiles in the Hwy 20 corridor, including at similar aspects and elevations, didn't find a weak layer or potentially problematic grains above the crust. While isolated and tricky to identify, suspect slopes will be leeward and above 6,500ft. It remains to be determined whether the crust and any associated weak layer will continue to produce avalanches.

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