April 14, 2026
Warming winters bring new avalanche risks to the Pacific Northwest
A new 91探花 study finds that climate warming is likely to complicate avalanche forecasting across the Pacific Northwest by increasing rain鈥憃n鈥憇now events that create unstable ice crusts within snowpacks.
While avalanche forecasters in warmer, maritime regions like western Washington are accustomed to these conditions, colder inland areas such as Eastern Washington, Idaho and Montana may face greater risk as their snowpacks begin to resemble coastal patterns. Using 25 years of regional data and climate simulations, researchers found that modest warming could significantly increase avalanche鈥憄rone ice layers in these colder regions, even as some Cascade areas may see reduced risk.
The findings highlight the need for updated forecasting tools and stronger collaboration among avalanche professionals as climate change reshapes winter hazards.