Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

As the day heats up, the likelihood of encountering wet snow avalanches will increase rapidly. There is also the chance of triggering older slabs of wind drifted snow in exposed terrain. Although most avalanches will be small, traumatic injury is more likely with any avalanche involvement due to thin snow coverage. Travel wisely.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Saturday will be sunny and hot, making this problem possible on even northerly aspects. Chunks of snow and rollerballs will start falling from trees, rocks, and your own equipment as you travel around. Avoid steep, sun exposed slopes when you start seeing natural avalanches, and limit your time spent under cliffbands where snow could fall down from. Manage your sluff as you descend by using more deliberate, slow travel away from terrain traps where snow will entrain. Pause to let sluff pass if it's growing too big, or if you need to change direction. This problem is less likely on south and west aspects at all elevations due to minimal or non-existent snow coverage. Although unlikely to bury you, wet snow is harder to escape from, and a small avalanche could carry you into hazards below.

    (2/24/2026)

    A flurry of of avalanches initiating from very steep, rocky areas and ski tracks on sunny slopes.

    Photo: Harrison Brickman - Bellingham Mtn Rescue

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Aging slabs of wind drifted snow sit on slick crusts in most places, but can also be over weak, faceted snow as well. Because of this, instability is lingering longer than usual. Expect deeper slabs on northern and eastern aspects. Many middle elevation south and west aspects have minimal snow coverage.

    Wind slabs most often form just below ridgelines or along gully walls (cross-loading). Look for textured/uneven surfaces and recent cornice/wind lip formation, which will tell you that the wind previously moved snow around in that area. It's becoming less likely that you'll see long shooting cracks or natural avalanches indicating instability prior to dropping into anything steep. You can limit your exposure to this problem by steering around big, steep downwind slopes and exposed, convex terrain features.

    (4/2/2026)

    At the top of Red Mountain, it was clear that exposed slopes were wind loaded and dangerous. Big cracking like this was observed on both sides of the ridgeline.

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

The cloud forecast was a bust on Friday, as it often is in the Spring. With more cloud coverage over most of the zone, minimal wet loose avalanche activity occurred. There is significantly more certainty that Saturday will be the big warm-up needed to really get recently fallen snow moving. Thankfully, the size will be limited to only the snow sitting over the very robust 3/25 crust.

An NWAC Forecaster in the Salmon La Sac on Thursday found small but reactive wind slab and dry loose avalanche conditions at middle elevations. Both problem types released on either the 3/25 crust or a small layer of near surface facets above the crust. These layers have recently been documented at upper elevations in the Salmon La Sac as well, and deeper slabs may exist there. You could find an isolated pocket in extreme terrain where enough recent snow formed a large slab deep enough to bury you if triggered. At lower elevations, avalanche hazard is generally low because there is not enough recent snow, and what snow there is is well bonded to the crust below.

To the east of the zone, it's unlikely you'll find near surface facets, but the 3/25 crust is pervasive. On Thursday, Mission Ridge Pro Patrol reported slabs up to 8 inches deep of wind drifted snow sitting above the crust at upper elevations. It is less likely you'd find a large slab deep enough to bury you around these areas.

Recent rain, warm temps, and sun have created widespread non-avalanche hazards. The 3/25 crust is slick at middle and upper elevations, creating long sliding fall hazard, especially in the morning before the snowpack has softened. You can also expect open creeks, holes, and exposed logs and rocks—especially at lower elevations and on south-facing slopes. Travel carefully, bring self-arresting equipment, and plan for difficult access.

Are you heading out into the mountains?  Let us know what you see by submitting an observation here or on the AvyApp.

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