East Slopes North
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Katie Warren
Issued: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineA cold spring storm will bring snow, wind, and a chance of avalanches. Steep slopes below ridgelines, the base of cliffs, and gullies are prime locations to trigger small slabs in wind-drifted snow. Seeking out sheltered terrain and steering around steep slopes with textured drifts can help you avoid avalanches.
Avalanche Danger
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
8000-6500ft2 - Moderate
6500-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-3000ft1 - Low
Thursday, April 16, 2026
8000-6500ft2 - Moderate
6500-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-3000ft1 - Low
Avalanche Danger ScaleLearn moreGeneral InfoGeneral Information1 - LowLow2 - ModModerate3 - ConsConsiderable4 - HighHigh5 - ExtrExtreme
1 - Low | 2 - Moderate |  3 - Considerable |  4 - High |  5 - Extreme | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
| Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
| Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
Avalanche Problems (2)
Problem #1: Wind Slab
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(2/8/2026)
Steep slopes below corniced ridgelines, like in this photo are prime spots to trigger wind slabs on Wednesday.
Wind slabs are most likely to form at mid and upper elevations on lee slopes below ridgelines and confined rocky features. Good indicators of wind-loaded slopes include blowing snow, cornice formations, and textured surfaces. You can use small test slopes to observe how the snow reacts. Cracking or snow sliding easily as a slab are signs that you could trigger an avalanche on a larger, steep slope. Choosing slopes that are sheltered from the wind or lower-angle terrain in wind-exposed locations are good travel options to avoid avalanches.
Avalanches will mostly be small but could slide easily on the underlying crusts. The consequences of a small slide could still be high if you were knocked off your feet or pushed into rocks or trees. On steep, sheltered terrain, dry loose avalanches could run easily on icy, old surfaces.
Problem #2: Wet Loose
Problem Type
Wet Loose
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(2/4/2026)
Rollerballs from rocks and trees are often the first sign of wet avalanche problems.
Photo: NCH
Conditions change rapidly with daytime warming and strong sunshine. The forecast isn't clear on how much sun we can expect on Wednesday, but it won't take much for wet avalanches to become a problem. If you start to notice rollerballs, trees shedding snow, or small natural wet loose avalanches, it's a good idea to move to shadier or lower-angle slopes. These avalanches tend to be more predictable than slab avalanches, but they can pick up a lot of mass as they move downhill. Make sure you're not exposed to snow sliding off rocks from above, and avoid stopping where your partners could push wet snow down towards you.
Temperatures could be down in the teens by Wednesday morning, so we don't expect wet avalanches to involve any of the older snow.
Forecast Discussion
We'll enjoy a brief return of winter on Wednesday with a storm that could bring up to 4-6" of snow and strong winds to the East North zone. Temperatures should cool rapidly, which is favorable. But given the limited access at this time of year, we have little information about old snow surfaces. You can use quick hand pits while traveling to assess this new interface. If snow slides easily, avalanches are more likely.
Recent observations indicate that surfaces have undergone multiple melt-freeze cycles, and thick crusts exist on most snow surfaces. Warm weather over the weekend created some variability in how refrozen the surfaces were each morning, but with cold temperatures on Wednesday, we don't expect that deep, wet snow to be an ongoing concern. Instead, you should expect hard, icy surfaces below the new snow. In many areas, the new snow won't be deep enough to prevent slick surfaces below from being a travel hazard. Consider bringing equipment to make travel easier and prevent long falls on steep terrain.
Snow cover is thin on southerly slopes and at low elevations. Be aware of exposed rocks and open creeks. WSDOT has begun plowing operations on Hwy 20 between Silver Star trailhead and Newhalem. The road will be closed to all traffic Monday through Thursday while workers and machinery are operating.
This information is provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and describes general backcountry avalanche hazard and conditions.
It does not apply to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation is conducted.