West Slopes South
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Dallas Glass
Issued: Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineAs the snow surface becomes weak and wet, expect avalanches to become easier to trigger. This could happen on different slopes at different times. Once you find wet snow deeper than your ankle, its time to head to lower angle or less slushy terrain.
Avalanche Danger
Sunday, April 5, 2026
8000-6500ft2 - Moderate
6500-5500ft2 - Moderate
5500-3500ft1 - Low
Monday, April 6, 2026
8000-6500ft2 - Moderate
6500-5500ft2 - Moderate
5500-3500ft1 - 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: Wet Loose
Problem Type
Wet Loose
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
Intentionally triggered wet loose avalanches. Slides like this often occur as the when the surface becomes wet and weak.
Video: Sam ClairmontA weak overnight freeze may limit avalanche concerns Sunday morning, but it won’t last long. Sunshine and warm temperatures will quickly cause the surface to become weak and wet. Aspect, elevation, and slope angle can effect when and how fast this happens. Pay close attention to the snow surface. Once any overnight crust breaks down, game on. The chance for avalanchs may go from near zero to easy to trigger quite quickly. Even though they may seem simple, these slides can grab you and drag you off a cliff or into trees. It's often hard to say exactly how big they'll become or how far they will run.
At this point in the wet loose cycle, we’re mainly worried about human triggered slides. Though the lack of a solid freeze certainly creates uncertainty. If all the snow above the 3/25 becomes weak, you could see larger natural wet avalanches. These slides would be most likely on steep rocky faces that warm faster than the surrounding terrain. These bigger gouging style wet slides are hard to predict and often catch us off guard. Consider planning your day to stay away from big craggy faces to remove this issue.
Forecast Discussion
We’re in for another beautiful spring day on Sunday. Mild temperatures and high thin clouds overnight could impact how well the surface freezes. With mostly sunny skies and temperatures once again expected to reach into the 50s, any crust probably won’t last long. Expect conditions to change rapidly through the morning.
It feels like spring, but the upper snowpack hasn’t fully transitioned. Below the surface, nearly a foot or more of drier snow still exists above the prominent 3/25 crust. This is the snow we’re most concerned with on Sunday. Several interstorm layers might still linger. Maybe most concerning is the 3/29 interface, a few inches above the burly crust. Facets were seen at this interface near the Crystal Mt and produced shooting cracks this past week. With the warm weather, any lingering weak layers will probably heal quickly. If you’re going to find weak older snow, it's most likely at higher elevations and on shaded aspects. Above our forecast areas (~8000ft), the snowpack may be very different. Be ready to assess conditions to determine when, where, and how to travel.
There’s not a lot of snow left in the rocks or along ridgelines, but hot weather like this could certainly bring it down. If you see snow clinging to the rocks or cornices looming on the ridges, don’t linger below. They could fall without warning. Travel conditions continue to be a major factor. You could encounter icy slopes, breakable crust, and patches of bare ground. Open creeks, random holes, downed logs, and exposed rocks add to the fun. Take your time with these persistent travel hazards.
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.