Bulletin d’avalanche

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sat
Alpin
3 · Marqué
Limite forestière
3 · Marqué
Sous la limite
3 · Marqué
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Points saillants

Around an inch of rain on Friday will finally wrap up this warm, wet period. Likelihood of natural and human-triggered avalanches is diminishing, but given the high uncertainty with these unusual conditions, and the chance, even if slim, of a large or very large avalanche releasing, avoid all steep terrain. Also, given the uncertainty, consider steering around or traveling quickly beneath large, steep slopes, since large natural avalanches are possible. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely
    Taille
    1.5–2.5

    Our wet snow avalanche concerns are turning into more of a low likelihood/high consequence scenario, where we think many avalanches have already run their course during this unprecedented soggy period. It still wouldn't be unexpected, however, for a large avalanche to release, ripping all the way down a sneaky gully to lower elevations on Friday. 

    Expect any flavor of wet snow avalanche if you get out on Friday. You might be able to trigger small wet loose avalanches. They might step down to much larger and more destructive slabs on large slopes. Glide cracks are opening up. Beware cornice fall, and snow chunks shedding from steep rock slopes. 

    Avoid steep terrain on Friday. Given how much uncertainty exists during this unusual period, consider steering around the bottom of large avalanche paths, where avalanches run and stop- or at least traveling quickly through them. 

    (3/19/2026)

    Glide cracks starting to open up in the usual spots in the Baker backcountry, on the east face of Herman. 

    Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mtn Ascents

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    We think there could actually be some dry snow falling at upper elevations on Friday- maybe up to a foot! You could trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted snow in areas where deposits grow to six inches or greater. 

    Steer clear of wind-loaded slabs on steep slopes. They might not be big enough to kill you, but if you're above a terrain trap, the consequences are magnified if you're caught.

    Example photo: Small wind slabs deposits could fracture and release at upper elevations on Friday. They may not be very large, but don't let one catch you in high consequence terrain. Note the textured surface where this slab released. 

    Photo: Adam Ü

Avalanche Discussion

An avalanche course at Heather Meadows reported on Thursday that the 3/12 crust 6-10" deep significantly broke down, and now in many spots their steps sink 2 feet deep. They found new glide cracks forming. On Wednesday, they witnessed big snow chunks shedding from steep cliffs. Check out their observation HERE. 

As of Thursday evening, Heather Meadows weather station has received over 5 inches of rain since Monday, and other locations near Mt Baker have received from 5.5-7 inches. It's harder to tell with less reliable telemetry, but rain probably totaled about 2 inches farther east in the zone. Snow heights diminished by about a foot and a half. Prior to the rain, about 2-3 feet of snow had fallen, broken midway by the 3/12 crust. Avalanches could fail within the newer layer, or even beneath it now. 

Rapid cooling is finally greeting us Friday night, and we expect previously wet, soggy surfaces to freeze by Saturday. They could be solid underfoot, or maybe you could still punch through the crust on Saturday. Avalanche likelihood will further decrease as the crust locks the surface, but given the massive amount of rain that's still trickling through the snowpack, for at least one more day, we wouldn't be surprised if a very large natural avalanche still unexpectedly releases, completely disregarding the superficial surface crust. 

Monday morning brought the first rain and warming, and a flurry of wet, loose avalanches followed. Then early Thursday, there was another suspected round of wet slab avalanches, this time larger. Travel conditions are challenging, with wet, heavy snow, open creek holes, and other hazards that increase the risk of injury and complicate travel during this soggy period. Lower elevation snowpacks are rapidly melting, and aside from large avalanches coming down from higher elevations, danger at lower elevations is decreasing. 

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