East Slopes South
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Payton Schiff
Issued: Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineWith such a warm spring day as Sunday will be, anticipate snow warming and weakening across the compass dial. If you begin sinking down into mushy, wet snow, dial it back to lower angle slopes or find cooler, drier snow to recreate on. Lower elevations lack sufficient snow coverage for avalanche hazard to exist.
Avalanche Danger
Sunday, April 19, 2026
7500-6000ft2 - Moderate
6000-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-3000ft0 - No Rating
Monday, April 20, 2026
7500-6000ft0 - No Rating
6000-5000ft0 - No Rating
5000-3000ft0 - No Rating
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
(4/18/2026)
A small intentionally triggered wet loose avalanche in East Central.
Sunday will mark yet another temperature uptick. At this point in the season, anticipate warming and weakening on all aspects. Northerly aspects may actually be the most reactive on Sunday, as more southerly slopes have already seen a decent amount of sunshine, or may just lack snow altogether. Watch for surfaces that feel increasingly moist and sticky as surface crusts formed overnight begin to break down. Chunks of snow falling from terrain features or rollerballs tumbling down from your equipment are a sure sign of increasing instability. These avalanches should be limited in size, but they could run far on an underlying crust. You can reduce your risk by traveling earlier in the day or sticking to shadier slopes.
Recently formed cornices along ridgelines are susceptible to falling suddenly due to warming. Don't linger underneath these, or other cliffy terrain that is holding snow.
Forecast 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!
Earlier in the week, the western parts of East South picked up 9-12 inches of new snow according to telemetry data, accompanied by strong wind from the west. Areas to the east were largely rain-shadowed throughout the week, minimizing precipitation and subsequent avalanche hazard. Since then, each day has been slightly warmer than the last, despite some chilly low-level east wind.
An NWAC Forecaster traveling in East Central on Wednesday observed several triggered and natural wind slab avalanches at upper elevations. Some of these slides picked up wet loose snow on their way down. We suspect that similar conditions existed in East South, but at this point, the wind slab problem is largely played out thanks to how warm it's been in the following days. There is also a general lack of snow in the zone. It appears that you may only be able to find enough snow for on-snow recreation around the Nelson range and Bumping Lake area. Even then, you'll likely have to travel quite high in elevation. If you do make it to upper elevations, be on the lookout for isolated pockets of lingering wind slab instability.
Whatever outing you have planned, be sure to have an exit strategy that keeps you out of avalanche terrain where warmed, weakened snow may fall. This includes terrain where wind-affected snow influenced by warming can fail. Don't get yourself backed into a corner by having to descend a steep, hot, sunny slope at 4:00 in the afternoon, for example. There are plenty of exposed hazards in the terrain right now, thanks to our meager winter, so consider the consequences of getting caught up in even a small avalanche.
The prolonged warm spell in March decimated the already struggling East South snowpack. Below 5,000 ft, snow coverage is too limited for avalanche danger—so we’re issuing a No Rating for lower elevations. You can still find rideable snow at middle and 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.