West Slopes Central
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Irene Henninger
Issued: Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineA few inches of snow will fall on Sunday along with increasing winds, so expect drifts six inches to a foot to form at middle and upper elevations. Search for stiffer-feeling deposits and textured surfaces as clues to avoid steep slopes where snow could easily slide on an underlying crust. Any non-wind-affected snow could also surprise you by easily "sluffing" on steep slopes where an underlying crust exists.
Avalanche Danger
Sunday, March 29, 2026
7500-5500ft2 - Moderate
5500-4500ft2 - Moderate
4500-2500ft1 - Low
Monday, March 30, 2026
7500-5500ft2 - Moderate
5500-4500ft2 - Moderate
4500-2500ft1 - 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: Wind Slab
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
Example photo: A small, intentionally triggered wind slab that slid easily on the underlying crust. This could be very similar to what you see on Sunday.
Photo: Dallas Glass
Danger will likely start on Low, but a convective spring storm is expected to deposit about 3 inches by the end of the day, with increasing winds. In exposed areas, wind will redistribute the snow into thicker wind slabs that could grow to six inches or more. Avalanches will likely remain small, but beware of even small avalanches if you're in high-consequence or extreme terrain, where even a small slide could have amplified consequences.
A crust developed on all aspects aside from due north thanks to the last few days' warm weather and sunny skies. Expect any slabs that build over a slick crust to slide surprisingly easily. Small new drifts of snow will likely deposit around features, on steep rolls, and in gullies. They may have a textured surface or, alternatively, a smooth, pillowed look to them.
Search for obvious clues like long, shooting cracks. Dig down with your hand to see if new slabs break easily on the underlying layer. Steer around steep slopes where you find newly formed wind slabs, and especially if you're above cliffs, trees, rocks, or a gully.
Forecast Discussion
The smooth, underlying crust will provide a good sliding surface for both non-wind-loaded snow and wind slabs. Expect loose dry "sluffs" to run long and far on the underlying crust. There was plenty of loose wet avalanche activity over the last few days, so expect hard, bumpy surfaces beneath the new snow in many areas. Even on northerly slopes without an obvious crust, the new snow may slide surprisingly easily.
A wet avalanche cycle likely occurred in the zone on Friday, with some lingering avalanches Saturday morning while it was still sunny. Slopes on east, south, and west aspects will remain hard and crusty on Sunday before adding a bit of new snow on top. North-facing areas may still have soft snow with varying amounts of wind-affect. Despite the lack of underlying crust, new wind slabs might still slide easily over the old snow on north-facing aspects.
Temperatures will remain cooler for the next few days, so dry snow should remain soft, and we don't expect any melting or retreating snowlines. Remember that our unseasonably thin snowpack still has many hazards even through mid-elevations, with open creeks and holes in abundance.
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.