Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You may encounter more elevated avalanche conditions at upper elevations and west of the Cascade crest. In those locations, there's enough recent snow to trigger avalanches in wet snow and in wind-drifted features. Plan to give yourself options to stay off steep slopes, both where the snow is becoming wet and weak and at upper elevations where you find recent drifts.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Temperatures will warm another 5-10F degrees on Sunday. This will combine with the sun to further moisten snow surfaces around the compass. You may see more active avalanche conditions on non-southerly aspects. You could still trigger avalanches on southerly aspects once surface crusts melt. As usual, larger avalanches are possible on long continuous slopes or in big alpine terrain. Limit your exposure to traveling beneath overhead hazards such as cornices. Be cautious about committing to terrain where your exit requires crossing steep, sun-exposed slopes as the day warms.

    (4/15/2026)

    Natural loose avalanches on the SW aspect of Whistler Peak. 

    Photo: WSDOT NCR

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Blustery winds formed slabs in new snow on the 16th, and possibly more recently. Use clues like textured surfaces, drifts, and sharp cornices to highlight likely loaded slopes. While slabs often form near ridges and in the tops of chutes, you may also find them along the slides of mid-slope gullies and other exposed features. Stick to less wind-affected or lower-angle slopes to get around these fresh slabs and enjoy the nearby snow. 

    Limited observations indicate a good bond between recent snow and the underlying mid-April crust. However, to the north, near Pemberton and Whistler, there have been a number of remotely triggered, widely breaking, persistent slab avalanches.

    (4/16/2026)

    Fresh wind lips, a tiny slab, and textured surfaces. Use visual clues to identify wind loaded slopes. 

    Photo: WSDOT NCR

Avalanche Discussion

This will be the last avalanche forecast for the 25-26 season. Mountain weather forecasts will be published each afternoon through May 3rd. NWAC will continue to monitor conditions and issue special avalanche bulletins and warnings as needed. A huge thanks to everyone in our community for your support this winter!

It's likely that you can still find more wintry snow on northerly aspects at middle and upper elevations, though it's quickly turning to melt forms. On Friday and Saturday, the sun and mild temperatures warmed the recent snow on many slopes. On the 14-15th, a cold storm brought more than a foot of snow to areas near and west of the Cascade crest, including Rainy Pass and Harts Pass. Snow totals drop quickly further east. Expect smaller avalanches and lower danger in these locations. 

The new snow accumulated over the stout 4/14 crust. On the 16th, WSDOT forecasters found plenty of visual evidence of wind-transported snow and nearby slabs. They also found that the new snow was generally well-bonded to the underlying crust. We don't know to what extent the wind has transported snow since then. It's worth noting that across the border, there have been multiple avalanches running on facets over the mid-April crust at upper elevations near Pemberton and Whistler. Some have been triggered remotely or have broken widely across terrain. 

Regions covered