October in the Pacific Northwest typically sees the arrival of the first tantalizing storms, and people begin to anticipate the true beginning of winter in the mountains. It is a time when careful research can pay off with some good turns or a rewarding ascent, and the fall colors alone are enough to entice you ...
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An ode to the data network: a poem by Mark Moore
Written by Mark Moore on May 8, 2017 .
Last update on May 8, 2017.
The NWAC Data Network
— Mark Moore, Founding Director of the Northwest Avalanche Center, May 2017
Weather data is real, it's not a fake.
It creates the snowpack like layers of a cake.
Whether the cake is solid—and stable when stressed…
Or fails and slides when put to a test.
It's all ...
Weather Stations Upgrade - Why we're asking for your help
Written by Charlotte Guard on May 4, 2017 .
Last update on Jan. 11, 2019.
As temperatures rise, we at the NWAC office are shifting gears to plan for the seasons ...
Ruby Mountain: Low Probability-High Consequence
Written by Jeremy Allyn on March 26, 2017 .
Last update on Jan. 11, 2019.
At around 350 pm, March 19, 2017, a group of three skiers were taking a break near the summit of Ruby Mountain (7408 feet) which is located 3.5 miles south of the North Cascades Highway and about 3 miles east of Diablo Lake. Having already skied a long lap on the upper mountain’s north ...
Cornices - don't walk the line!
Written by Robert Hahn on March 14, 2017 .
Last update on Jan. 11, 2019.
On a clear, calm day, ridgelines are favorite resting places for backcountry travelers. Potentially lower angled terrain offers spacious views and a chance to contemplate how to harness gravity on the way down. However, ridge-lines have hazards of their own - cornices!
The National Avalanche Center defines a cornice as "a mass of snow deposited ...
New NWAC Weather Station Graphs!
Written by Dennis D'Amico on Feb. 7, 2017 .
Last update on Jan. 11, 2019.
New interactive graphs allow you to mix and match all of the weather stations in NWAC's network.
A few comments on the upcoming winter from Mark Moore (retired NWAC director and part-time poet)
Aiieee—it’s a weak La Niña. Run for the hills! Wax up the boards! Wait…there’s no snow on the ground yet. No, Wait again…there is snow but not much. Egad where and how will this season ever start?
Well, if these ...
Summer Weather Station Work and Fall Schedule at the NWAC
Written by Garth Ferber on Oct. 13, 2016 .
Last update on Oct. 13, 2016.
Summer Weather Station Work
Running an avalanche center like the NWAC takes a lot of behind the scenes work in the summer. Here on the forecast office side of the fence there is work to be done such as gathering funds, organizing budgets, work on weather stations and work on our web site.
The non-profit side of the NWAC ...
Summer Snows and Summer work
Written by Dennis D'Amico on June 17, 2016 .
Last update on June 17, 2016.
NWAC has transitioned to limited summer operations, but we wanted to give one last overview of what has happened in the last week weather-wise and talk about projects planned for the summer.
Recent Mountain Weather Summary
NWAC weather stations have picked up roughly 2 to 4 inches of water over the last 8 days with freezing levels averaging around 6000 ...
Winter '15 Website Updates
Written by Nicholas Rustigian on Dec. 9, 2015 .
Last update on Dec. 10, 2015.
With almost a week of forecasting behind us, we've already seen a variety of weather and avalanche conditions—including a full burial at Stevens Pass. The incident was a very close call and the skiers were exceptionally lucky. Please be patient and wait for safe conditions before putting yourself and others in harms way. There'll be no shortage of powder days ...