About Us

The Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) operates as a private-public partnership between the US Forest Service and the 501(c)(3) non-profit arm of NWAC.

Together, the Northwest Avalanche Center exists to increase avalanche awareness, reduce avalanche impacts, and equip the community with mountain weather and avalanche forecasts, education, and data. We envision a community of backcountry users in the Pacific Northwest aware of avalanche risk, making informed decisions, and returning safely.

Operational Arm — US Forest Service

The NWAC Forecasting Program is administered by the USFS. The program consists of two USFS avalanche meteorologists based at the NOAA-NWS office in Seattle and nine USFS avalanche specialists (forecasters) based at satellite locations across Washington and northern Oregon. NWAC begins daily weather and avalanche forecasts once enough snow accumulates in the mountains for consistent on-snow travel. Once daily forecasts begin, we operate seven days a week until we wind down winter-time operations in mid to late April. Forecasts are constructed by forecast staff using a combination of weather models, remote weather stations, snowpack data, and field observations. We receive and incorporate field observations from our staff, the public, and other avalanche professionals.

While most of the USFS forecast staff are offboarded in the spring and return the following fall, we have a small team that stays on during the “warm season” and prepares for the next season. Our off-season consists of new hiring, budgeting, programmatic changes, weather station maintenance, and procuring equipment.

Fundraising, Education & Outreach Arm — Non-Profit Organization

The non-profit organization, based in North Bend, WA, raises money to support forecasting operations. They manage education, outreach, and fundraising, and fund the www.nwac.us website and various related tech projects. The Northwest Avalanche Center is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit overseen by a 19-member Board of Directors.

NWAC's education program focuses on providing free and low-cost avalanche awareness classes and continuing education workshops. The program offers hundreds of classes each year, serving over 5,000 community members. NWAC also serves as a clearinghouse for information on avalanche safety. The education pages on our website feature valuable resources, and we maintain an up-to-date calendar of avalanche education opportunities offered by various companies and organizations in the PNW.

Funding

The USFS Northwest Avalanche Center is funded by seven primary partners: the US Forest Service, the non-profit Northwest Avalanche Center, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (including Snowmobile and Snowpark Programs), Washington State Department of Transportation, National Park Service, Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association, and the NW Winter Sports Foundation. 

The non-profit NWAC is funded by individual donors, memberships, grants, and corporate sponsors. A significant portion of these donations directly supports the NWAC Forecasting Program.

Governing Documents, Audits, Tax Returns & Indirect Costs

Governing documents, audits, and tax returns for the non-profit NWAC are available upon request. Please send requests to info@nwac.us. The maximum Indirect Cost Rate for organizations contracting with NWAC is 0%. The intent is to sufficiently fund the actual costs of services and not to generate financial surpluses for contractors.