Bulletin d’avalanche

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sat
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
2 · Modéré
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 4 months ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Sun and above freezing temperatures will maintain the risk of wet avalanches. Avoid travel on or directly under slopes where you see rolling balls of snow, small wet avalanches, or where the snow is mushy and wet.  Look out for pockets of wind-drifted snow in steep, alpine terrain.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    There have been few observations of wind-transported snow—or even wind—in the main portions of the forecast zone, but chances are it’s a different story along the eastern edge of the forecast zone near the Cascade Crest. Look for signs of previous wind transport like fresh cornices, scoured snow, and changes in surface texture or stiffness. Most wind slabs should be small, but even a small slab could have high consequences in steep alpine terrain.

    (4/3/2026)

    Keep an eye on steep, unsupported, and wind-loaded features if you are headed east toward North Cascade National Park, or just alpine terrain in general.

    Photo: Harrison Brickman - Bellingham Mtn Rescue

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    A “slow bake” pattern seems to have kept wet avalanche activity to a steady trickle, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. More sun and warmer temperatures on Friday could bump things up—or not. Expect variability across the zone and watch for signs that wet avalanche activity is increasing. 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 under overhead hazards. If you find conditions warmer than expected, adjust early—before your options shrink.

    (4/16/2026)

    Rollerballs are often a precursor to natural wet loose avalanches. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

On Thursday, an observer on the White Salmon Glacier found no slab instabilities or evidence of wind slabs. Human-triggered dry loose avalanches were running far on long, fall-line slopes, reaching up to D1.5. A few small wet loose avalanches were also observed on southerly terrain across the creek. Others out and about the Baker Backcountry found periods of sun ramped up signs of wet avalanche instability, but it just didn't stay warm enough for long enough to initiate a cycle of wet avalanches.

The 1–2 feet of new snow from the latest storm settled quickly by Wednesday morning, with slab avalanche activity that day limited to steep, unsupported slopes. The new snow bonded well to the underlying crust or moist layer from April 13. Even with limited sun, there was enough warming to produce rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches on southerly aspects, while wind effects near ridgelines remained subtle and were often obscured by softer snow.

Régions couvertes