Bollettino valanghe

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Mon
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 4 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Anticipate rising wet avalanche danger through the day, especially on slopes that haven’t already shed. Keep track of overhead hazards and avoid steep terrain where you see rollerballs or small wet avalanches. Cornice fall and glide avalanches are also a hazard. Small wind slabs exist in alpine terrain.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Older wind slabs from mid-week are likely unreactive, but recent strong alpine winds have formed new slabs at upper elevations, generally at and above 7,000 feet. Look for scoured surfaces, rippled snow, cornices, and fresh drifts to identify where pockets of wind slab lie in wait. Most slabs should be small, and some will be surrounded by a sea of crust, making them easier to spot and avoid on steep terrain. On the other hand, the best cold, dry snow will also be in these same wind-loaded areas.

    (4/18/2026)

    A small skier-triggered wind slab. North aspect on the Coleman Glacier at 7300 feet.

    (HS-AS-D1-S)

    Photo: Harrison Brickman - Bellingham Mountain Rescue

  • Loose Wet

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

    Warm temperatures and periods of thin cloud cover have definitely produced wet avalanches over the past few days. Most were on southerly aspects at mid elevations, but some were also spotted on northerly slopes. A few wet avalanches were also seen in high alpine terrain. Most were smaller than D2.

    The big question is whether much warmer temperatures and less wind over the next few days will produce more and larger avalanches. While mid elevations may have already gone through a wet loose cycle, upper elevations still seem to have more snow to shed.

    The greatest danger will be in the afternoon on slopes seeing direct sun, which is nearly everywhere now that the sun is so high in the sky. There is no guarantee you will see large wet avalanches, but pay attention to how the mountains react to Sunday and Monday’s warm-up, and have a plan to minimize exposure if things feel too hot to handle.

    (4/18/2026)

    This is the sort of terrain where an increase in wet avalanche activity is anticipated on Sunday. Small ones are visible here and there, but there's potential to see some larger ones as well.

    Photo: Lee Lazzara

Avalanche Discussion

This will be the last avalanche forecast for the 25-26 season. Mountain weather forecasts will be published each afternoon through May 3rd. NWAC will continue to monitor conditions and issue special avalanche bulletins and warnings as needed. A huge thanks to everyone in our community for your support this winter!

Large amounts of wind transport and a single human-triggered wind slab were reported from high alpine terrain on Mt. Baker on Saturday. Wind slab formation was generally limited to areas above 7,000 feet, as crust caps the snowpack below that elevation and had locked in place any remaining soft snow.

A variety of wet loose avalanches and a few small glide avalanches were visible around the Baker Backcountry. Wet avalanches were seen on all aspects at mid elevations, with most on slopes receiving the direct sun. Most were less than D2, though a few larger ones were spotted on very large southwest-facing slopes near the Canadian border. Patches of dry snow remained at 5000 feet, but overall, the snow surface has been affected by warming across all aspects.

Maybe the most notable observation was also the most subtle: trees and rocks on upper elevation, south-facing slopes were still holding snow instead of melting out over the past few days. This suggests those areas haven’t seen the same level of warming as mid elevations, and that common triggers for natural wet loose avalanches—like snow shedding from rocks and trees—are still in play. As always, there are no sure bets, but it’s a clue that the wet avalanche cycle may not be over.

It’s also worth noting that near Pemberton and Whistler, there have been several remotely triggered and widely propagating persistent slab avalanches on a recently formed weak layer—an anomaly for April. This is unlikely to be an issue in West North, but don’t ignore obvious signs of instability like whumphing, shooting cracks, or remote triggers in case it is.

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