East Slopes Central
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Joe Dellaporta
Issued: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineThe 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 or more shaded terrain if you don’t like what you’re seeing.
Avalanche Danger
Thursday, April 16, 2026
7500-6000ft3 - Considerable
6000-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-2500ft1 - Low
Friday, April 17, 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 (2)
Problem #1: Wind Slab
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
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.
Problem #2: Wet Loose
Problem Type
Wet Loose
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(4/15/2026)
An intentionally triggered wind slab that entrained additional wet loose snow on its way down.
Photo: Payton Schiff
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.
Forecast Discussion
Western parts of the East Central picked up 9–12” of new snow over a widespread crust, while areas near Blewett and Mission were largely rain-shadowed with minimal avalanche danger. On Wednesday, observers reported reactive wind-drifted snow in the Teanaway, where an NWAC forecaster triggered several small avalanches that failed on mid-storm interfaces and one that notably broke on the 4/14 crust about 12 inches deep. These avalanches were on E aspects around 6-6500f ft. She also noted blowing snow and sunbreaks that would stiffen the surface snow on sunny slopes. Check out the media below for more details.
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 meager winter hasn't left much of a snowpack at lower elevations, and sunny aspects like west and south slopes are looking bare well into the mid-elevations. Consider packing trail shoes for traveling over dry ground to reach a more robust snowpack at upper elevations.
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.