Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You may encounter very different snow and avalanche conditions depending on elevation, location in the range, and time of day. There's enough recent snow west of the Cascade Crest that you may be able to trigger avalanches in wet snow on sunny slopes and in recent wind-drifted snow at upper elevations. The avalanche danger will be less significant to the east and at lower elevations. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    On Saturday, temperatures will be significantly warmer. This will combine with the sun to further warm the recent snow 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 fall-line slopes or in big alpine terrain. Be cautious about committing to terrain where your exit requires crossing steep, sun-exposed slopes or traveling beneath overhead hazards such as cornices.

    (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 fresh slabs on Thursday, especially in more alpine terrain. WSDOT found plenty of visual evidence of wind-transported snow and nearby slabs. 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 soft snow.

    (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

The last avalanche forecast for the 25-26 season will be for Sunday, April 19th. Mountain weather forecasts will be published each afternoon through May 3rd. A huge thanks to everyone in our community for your support this winter!

On Friday, the sun and mild temperatures warmed recent snow enough for natural, wet avalanches on many sun-exposed slopes. On the 15th, a cold storm may have 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 as you travel east. Expect smaller avalanches and lower danger in these locations. 

The new snow accumulated over the stout 4/14 crust. However, WSDOT crews found that the new snow was generally well bonded to the underlying crust. Stronger winds on Thursday likely contributed to this variability, redistributing snow across different aspects and features. 

Regions covered