West Slopes Central
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Lee Lazzara
Issued: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineAvoid steep slopes where you find recently wind-drifted snow. Convergence zone–enhanced snowfall may create more dangerous conditions between the southern Mt. Loop and I-90. Assess stability as you travel and default to lower-angle terrain to reduce uncertainty.
Avalanche Danger
Thursday, April 2, 2026
7500-5500ft3 - Considerable
5500-4500ft2 - Moderate
4500-2500ft1 - Low
Friday, April 3, 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
A shooting crack in wind drifted snow. Take a step back and avoid nearby steep slopes if you see signs like this.
Photo: Dallas GlassWesterly winds should increase through the morning and will build fresh wind slabs on leeward slopes. When it's still blowing, wind-loaded slopes will be easier to identify - just take note of which slopes are accumulating drifting snow. As winds ease, use clues such as scoured surfaces, fresh drifts, and recently formed cornices to identify where slabs may have previously formed.
While the primary hazard will be in wind-loaded terrain, don’t ignore areas with deeper new snow. Check how well the new snow is bonding to the old surface anywhere you find 6 inches or more of new snow. Slabs may be reactive even outside of obvious wind-loaded features.
Forecast Discussion
Keep an eye out for snow shedding from trees, fresh rollerballs, and other signs of wet avalanche instability as the day warms. Clouds should keep the sun in check, but it’ll still be warm enough for snow to shed off cliffs and steep features, and trigger small avalanches on slopes below.
Conditions were indeed mixed today, with very different reports from the zones around West Central. Observers at upper elevations in West North found very strong winds, erratic wind loading patterns, and small but touchy wind slabs. As the day progressed, similar conditions began to show up slightly lower as well. On the other hand, Low danger was still the name of the game in Stevens Pass. Snoqualmie Pass saw wind speeds increase throughout the day, likely pushing danger to moderate at upper elevations as the current storm approached.
West Central weather stations also showed a varied pattern, with lower-elevation sites picking up nearly a half-inch of precipitation overnight, while inland sites saw nearly none. Warm temperatures prevailed everywhere, so most precipitation fell as rain or very wet snow at mid elevations. Also of note is the very patchy snow cover at low elevations, as this NWAC Forecaster found on Tuesday.
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.