West Slopes North
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 LineForecast snow amounts are modest, but you can still trigger a slab avalanche—particularly on wind-loaded slopes. Assess stability as you travel and default to lower-angle terrain to reduce uncertainty.
Avalanche Danger
Thursday, April 2, 2026
7500-5500ft2 - Moderate
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: Storm Slab
Problem Type
Storm Slab
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(12/8/2021)
A long shooting crack means you definitely found unstable snow and are much more likely to trigger a slab on a steeper slope.
New snow will fall on a mix of surfaces, including crusts, wind-affected snow, and possibly weak, faceted snow on northerly aspects. Even shallow accumulations may form thin, reactive slabs where there is a poor bond to the old snow surface. Warming through the day could also stiffen the surface and make the snow more slabby. Use small test slopes and quick hand pits to assess bonding as you travel, and track how new snow depth changes with elevation and aspect.
West North is expected to see less wind and snowfall than forecast zones to the south, but don’t let that fool you—west winds in the North Cascades can be uneven, with pockets of moderate transport and localized loading between areas of near total calm. Most areas will receive 3 to 6 inches of new snow by Thursday morning. If you find more than that or encounter stronger winds, expect greater danger and adjust your plan accordingly.
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 opposite sides of the Baker Backcountry. Those in more sheltered areas, like Swift Creek, found signs of wind transport but no slab formation. There were a few inches of moist, “surfy” new snow, a few rollerballs, and no significant avalanche problems. A bit later in the day high up on Herman, observers 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.
One upside to the wind and warming is that it likely beat up any weak, faceted snow at the surface. Still, Thursday isn’t a free pass. If snowfall amounts or wind come in higher than forecast—or you find a slab that formed over facets—you could trigger an avalanche large enough to bury or carry you into consequential terrain. It’s also just as possible that conditions stay manageable, with stubborn slabs confined to isolated features.
Don’t lock in a plan too early. Check how weather factors play out overnight and be ready to adjust based on what you find in the morning.
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.