East Slopes South

Limit your exposure to overhanging masses of snow or to cliffs where snow could fall from. Despite slightly cloudier conditions, small and isolated wet loose avalanches remain a concern. Move off steep terrain when you're sinking deeply into the snow surface if you want to avoid avalanches entirely. Lower elevations lack sufficient snow coverage for avalanche hazard to exist.

Thursday night will be calm and warm with increasing cloud coverage. You'll still see the sun on Friday, but a rainy storm system is on its way. With the lack of a strong overnight refreeze, conditions could be more primed for wet loose avalanches on Friday. We expect any avalanches to be small and isolated. Monitor surface conditions as you move around. If you begin sinking deeply past your boot tops, consider it time to move to lower angle terrain. Another way to reduce your risk is to move quickly as you travel beneath overhead hazards, such as cornices or rock slabs, that could still shed snow. 

Public observations have been limited due to low snow and difficult access. An NWAC Forecaster around Bumping Lake last Friday reported very patchy snow coverage and rugged travel to 5200 ft. More recently, another NWAC Forecaster traveling around East Central found similar conditions. There has been a notable lack of avalanche activity in East Central and East South. Over in the neighboring West South and Snoqualmie zones, numerous shed-style observations have occurred during the recent warm stretch of weather.  

It likely comes as no surprise that coverage is a major issue, particularly on southerly slopes. You might find yourself walking on bare ground in search of snow at higher elevations. Expect a plethora of shallowly buried objects, high flowing creeks, and difficult access. As the WA Cascades are still recovering from the epic December 2025 atmospheric river events, roads can be washed out or blocked by downed trees. Plan extra time into your day accordingly.

It feels less like April and more like June out there, but we could be in for significant snowfall next week. Although this is unlikely to totally turn around this fast track towards summer we're on, it does mean that avalanche conditions could be completely different from what they are right now. Be sure to tune back into the forecast if you plan to score one more pow day this season.

The prolonged warm spell in March decimated the already struggling East South snowpack. Below 5,000 ft, snow coverage is too limited for avalanche danger at this time—so we’re issuing a No Rating for lower elevations. You can still find rideable snow at middle and upper elevations on most aspects. 

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