West Slopes Central
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Lee Lazzara
Issued: Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Friday, April 17, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineExpect increasing wet avalanche concerns on sun-exposed slopes as temperatures rise on Friday. Avoid travel on or directly under slopes where you see rolling balls of snow, small wet avalanches, or where the snow is becoming mushy and wet. In the alpine, watch for isolated areas of wind-drifted snow
Avalanche Danger
Friday, April 17, 2026
7500-5500ft2 - Moderate
5500-4500ft2 - Moderate
4500-2500ft2 - Moderate
Saturday, April 18, 2026
7500-5500ft2 - Moderate
5500-4500ft2 - Moderate
4500-2500ft2 - Moderate
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: Wet Loose
Problem Type
Wet Loose
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(4/16/2026)
Rollerballs are often a precursor to natural wet loose avalanches.
Photo: Dallas Glass
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.
Problem #2: Wind Slab
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(4/3/2026)
Keep an eye on steep, unsupported, and wind-loaded features if you are headed east toward Glacier Peak, or just alpine terrain in general.
Photo: Harrison Brickman - Bellingham Mtn Rescue
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.
Forecast Discussion
Most areas on the west side of the Cascades picked up another 2–6 inches of dry new snow overnight into Thursday morning. Observations from West Central and West North on Thursday pointed to a generally stable snowpack, with loose snow avalanches as the main concern. In West Central, an NWAC forecaster found about 2 feet of recent snow at upper elevations with a mostly right-side-up structure and good bonding to the underlying crust. The snow surface became wetter through the day, but no wet loose avalanches were triggered. In alpine terrain on Shuksan, no slab instabilities or fresh wind slabs were observed, though human-triggered dry loose avalanches were running far in steep, fall-line terrain.
On Wednesday, the 1–2 feet of new snow was found to be well-bonded, with most avalanche activity limited to steep, unsupported terrain. Loose dry avalanches were common during and just after the storm but became harder to trigger through the day. Even brief sun breaks were enough to produce rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches on sun-exposed slopes. Wind effects were present but subtle, with isolated areas of drifted snow near ridgelines.
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.