Bollettino valanghe

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Fri
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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In sintesi

The sun may come out, but avalanche conditions will remain dynamic, with strong winds maintaining sensitive slabs that could be triggered by a person or machine in higher terrain. Periods of clear skies and intense April sun will also drive wet snow instabilities, including the potential for natural avalanches during sunnier stretches. With overlapping avalanche problems, have a plan that allows you to easily move to lower-angle terrain or shadier slopes if you don’t like what you’re seeing. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Precipitation rates will relax, but strong NW winds will continue to drift new snow and maintain reactive wind slabs in upper and possibly some middle elevation terrain. Look for these slabs to be thicker as you gain elevation into alpine terrain or as you approach the Cascade Crest, which received higher accumulations.  These wind slabs have formed over crusts on most of the slopes and may fail within the new storm layers or on this crust that sits roughly 1-2 feet below the surface on wind-loaded slopes.

    Look for these drifts to be most prevalent on the downwind sides of ridges and saddles, below cornices, and near rocky complex terrain. Blowing snow, wind-rippled surfaces, and sharp cornices are clear indicators that wind slabs may lurk on slopes nearby. Shooting cracks and recent avalanche activity are clear red flags to keep slope angles in check.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    Partly sunny skies will allow the strong April sun to leave its mark on steep, sunny slopes. Look for sticky, wet snow surfaces to form on these sunny slopes as the day heats up. While most natural or triggered wet loose should stay on the smaller side, they could run far on the underlying crust. 

    It may not take much sun or warming at the snow surface for the new snow to react. Pay close attention to rollerballs, pinwheels, or sticky snow surfaces as these could be precursors to larger, wet loose avalanches. Head for a shadier slope if you see these signs of warming. 

    (4/15/2026)

    An intentionally triggered wind slab that entrained additional wet loose snow on its way down.

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

The western parts of the East South did well and picked up 9-12” of new snow that fell over a widespread crust. Areas further east were, unfortunately, largely rain-shadowed from this storm. As you’d expect, observers in neighboring zones reported more reactive conditions closer to the Cascade Crest. An NWAC forecaster traveling in the East Central zone in the Teanaway reported triggering several small avalanches that failed within the new snow and one that propagated more widely, roughly 12 inches below the snow surface. She also reported plenty of blowing snow and intermittent sunbreaks that helped stiffen up the surface snow along sun-exposed slopes. Similar conditions likely existed in the East South on Wednesday, given similar accumulations. 

Precipitation will taper on Wednesday evening, but conditions will remain dynamic where more than 6 inches fell.  Expect to manage both dry and wet avalanche problems depending on aspect and timing. Take your time making and processing observations, and pick less consequential or simpler terrain to reduce uncertainty. 

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.

Are you heading out? You can help the forecast staff and backcountry community out by submitting your observation here or on the AvyApp.

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