Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Mon
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

You’re most likely to trigger an avalanche in wind-loaded terrain where fresh slabs of drifted snow rest over weak layers in the upper snowpack. Expect more complex conditions as you gain elevation into more wind-exposed terrain or closer to the Cascade Crest that received more recent accumulations. Pay close attention to visual clues like blowing snow, wind-stiffened surfaces, and sharp drifts to help you identify slopes of concern. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    Wind slabs will continue to grow in size and become more reactive to a human's weight as new snow trickles in. While precipitation totals remain rather light, slabs could quickly become sensitive with minor warming and weak layers resting under recently formed slabs. It's not out of the question that a triggered wind slab could break more deeply or propagate more widely than expected, they fail on facets or buried surface hoar. This situation will become more likely as you move into upper elevations. 

    Wind slabs typically form just below ridgelines and within concave terrain features (cross-loading). Due to recent easterly winds, small slabs may exist on atypical slopes. Blowing or drifting snow will be your first easily identifiable sign that slabs are being built. Also keep an eye out for other visual and tactile clues such as textured surfaces, soft, freshly formed difts/cornices, and a change to denser feeling snow beneath your equipment.

    (2/20/2026)

    Mission Ridge: Wind slabs failing on buried surface hoar and entraining dry loose snow on the way down. These slabs were 4F+ hard and 8-10" at their deepest. Cracking can also be observed in near crust facets below the 02/07 crust. Mission patrollers reported sustained wind transport from the SW throughout the day.

    Photo: Mission Ridge Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

The avalanche danger is slowly rising as new snow trickles in over recently buried weak layers from the January drought zone-wide. As of right now, most recent activity has been small and confined to wind-loaded terrain. Areas further west in the zone, like Salmon La Sac, the Stuart Range, and Chiwaukums, and areas up north have more recent snow and the potential for larger avalanches, especially at higher elevations. We don’t have much information from these upper elevations, but with recent strong winds and incremental loading, expect more dangerous conditions. We've already received a handful of notable observations highlighting wide avalanches, audible whumphs, and long shooting cracks from Snoqualmie to Stevens Pass. We may start seeing these types of instabilities drift further east in the Cascades as new snow and warming build more of a cohesive slab over well-documented persistent weak layers in the coming days. Now is a good time to dial it back and adjust your travel practices to match the unique snowpack that currently exists around the Cascades. 

On Friday, Mission Ridge Pro Patrol triggered small wind slabs 8–10 inches deep on buried surface hoar, with some stepping down into facets below the 2/7 crust. This is notable as most observations have reported the 02/07 crust to be pencil hard and ski supportable, although not boot supportable. This means the crust isn't as strong as we'd like for snowpack stability. This is also confirmed by snowpit tests performed by NWAC Forecasters in the area on Thursday, who got propagating test results within the near-crust facet layer. An NWAC Forecaster traveling in the Salmon La Sac on Thursday also got notable snowpit test results with this layer.

Travel conditions are improving, but low snow coverage persists at lower elevations, on southerly slopes, and throughout the Wenatchees. Allow extra time and watch for exposed hazards hidden by new snow.

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