West Slopes North
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Lee Lazzara
Issued: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineAvalanche danger will rise through the day as a storm moves in and temperatures warm up. Shift to simpler, lower-angle terrain during stormy periods or if you see signs of instability like shooting cracks, rollerballs, or fresh avalanches.
Avalanche Danger
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
7500-5500ft3 - Considerable
5500-4500ft2 - Moderate
4500-2500ft2 - Moderate
Thursday, April 2, 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 (2)
Problem #1: Storm Slab
Problem Type
Storm Slab
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(12/16/2024)
You could find the slab in wind-sheltered terrain on Wednesday. Weak snow surfaces mean you might see some reactivity even with modest amounts of new snow.
Photo: Gregg Oliveri
The incoming storm isn’t arriving cleanly—expect variable snowfall rates, fluctuating snow levels, and shifting winds. Avalanche danger could rise quickly in the afternoon or evening, especially during heavier snowfall, but shallow, reactive slabs may exist from the start. Conditions will vary widely across the zone, with more precipitation near the Baker Backcountry and less along the Canadian border and in North Cascades National Park.
You are more likely to trigger a slab on steep slopes that are loading up with wind-drifted snow. But with weak, faceted snow or crusts at the current snow surface, be ready to see shallow slabs in all terrain, wind-loaded or not. Track conditions through the day. As snowfall, wind, and poor visibility increase, step back from bigger, steeper, and more complex terrain.
Problem #2: Wet Loose
Problem Type
Wet Loose
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(1/20/2024)
Rain on new snow is a near-guarantee of snow sliding down the hill.
Photo: Julz Holder - Grounding Truth
Wet loose avalanches should be on your radar at low and middle elevations as rising snow levels spit rain onto a bit of new snow. While all should be small, they can still pose a real hazard in rugged, marginally snow-covered terrain or where open creeks exist in the runout. Avoid travel on or directly beneath steep slopes where you see fresh rollerballs, pinwheels, or small wet avalanches.
Forecast Discussion
West North has been the outlier forecast zone over the last few days, with more snow and avalanche activity over the weekend and into Monday than anyplace else in the Cascades. Precipitation amounts haven't been especially noteworthy, nor have avalanches been very large, but the 4-10 inches of new snow just haven't bonded well to the crust layer just below it. This weak interface produced numerous loose snow avalanches and some slabs as well. The snowpack beneath recent snow is a mix of crusts with rounded grains and soft melt forms—a product of repeated swings between cold, snowy weather and warmer, rainy periods this winter.
The most important factor heading into the next storm is the current snow surface. Light-density surface snow has faceted, with weak snow lingering even on sunnier aspects where you’d typically expect to only find melt-freeze crusts. A few days of faceting alone isn’t a classic setup for a persistent weak layer, but it is enough to increase sensitivity. Expect fresh slabs to be more reactive than usual, even with relatively moderate amounts of new snow.
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.