East Slopes Central
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Joe Dellaporta
Issued: Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineWarm temperatures will continue to promote wet snow instabilities on steep, sun-exposed slopes as the day heats up. Pay close attention to your position, timing, and consider moving out of steep terrain of consequence once the snow feels sticky or starts shedding downhill. Expect firm snow during the morning hours and challenging access due to low snow across the eastern mountains.
Avalanche Danger
Sunday, April 5, 2026
7500-6000ft2 - Moderate
6000-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-2500ft1 - Low
Monday, April 6, 2026
7500-6000ft2 - Moderate
6000-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-2500ft1 - 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 (1)
Problem #1: Wet Loose
Problem Type
Wet Loose
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(4/4/2026)
Signs of warming on north-facing terrain in the Stevens Pass zone on Saturday.
Photo: Katie Warren
The chance of triggering small wet loose avalanches that run on a crust will increase as the morning warms up. There have been plenty of signs of warming reported, such as rollerballs and chunks of snow peeling off steep, sun-exposed slopes in recent days. Look for these warning signs to continue as freezing levels stay elevated through Sunday. You may start noticing these signs of warming on more shaded slopes as the weekend progresses. Look for rollerballs and pinwheels as precursors to larger wet loose avalanches. The upper snowpack has not fully transitioned from dry to wet yet, so let sticky surfaces be another indicator that triggering wet loose avalanches will be possible.
The hot weather may also weaken cornices and widen glide cracks in some areas. Limit your exposure where you find these bigger overhanging chunks of snow exist, as they often fail without warning.
Forecast Discussion
Sunday is shaping up to be another warm day across the eastern Cascades. The only difference from Saturday may just be some thin high clouds that should’t really affect the avalanche forecast. Saturday night will bring another night of high freezing levels, but with mostly clear skies, the upper snowpack should undergo a light refreeze. Expect this surface crust to break down by late morning and give way to warming induced instabilites as the sun moves around the dial. If you head to more shaded aspects at upper elevations, expect to find some dry snow and keep small wind slabs on your radar if traveling in consequential terrain. These could remain reactive to a human-trigger if they rest over faceted grains on a crust.
Public observations have been limited across the East Central due to low snow and difficult access. Near Salmon La Sac, an NWAC forecaster found small but reactive wind slabs and dry loose avalanches at mid elevations, failing on the 3/25 crust or a thin layer of near-surface facets. These layers also exist at upper elevations, where deeper slabs may linger in isolated, extreme terrain—large enough to bury a person if triggered (observation here). At lower elevations, hazard remains low due to minimal recent snow and good bonding to the crust.
Limited observations are great reasons to ease into terrain slowly and continually asses the upper snowpack, especially in more remote parts of the zone like north of Lake Wenatchee or further out areas in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Large temperature fluctuations and minimal new snow have made mountain travel challenging. Expect dry approaches, high creeks, and some glacier lilies at lower elevations and firm, slide-for-life surfaces in middle and upper elevation terrain, particularly during the morning hours. Crampons, an ice axe, and experience moving through hard snow may be necessary on steeper slopes before the sun works its magic.
Are you heading out into the mountains? Let us know what you see by submitting an observation here or on the AvyApp
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.