Lawinenlagebericht

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Pay attention to firmer or textured surfaces in steep, exposed terrain, as this could mean wind loaded snow lurks nearby. If the sun permeates thin cloud coverage enough on Saturday, you could see sluffs of wetted snow releasing from steep cliff bands and rock features. Lower elevations generally lack sufficient snow coverage for avalanche hazard, but some areas closer to the Cascade Crest could have a deeper snowpack at all elevations.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The sensitivity of wind slabs has trended down significantly; however, there remains the possibility of triggering a large and deadly avalanche at upper elevations. There is still plenty of recently fallen dry snow that will be easily blown around onto lee slopes, so small, fresh slabs may form.

    As older slabs stiffen, it becomes harder to observe obvious signs of instability, such as long shooting cracks from your equipment, collapsing, and recent slab avalanches. Blowing snow and a change to denser yet still soft snow are signs that fresh wind slabs are forming. Look for terrain clues of wind transport, such as sharp drift and cornice development, textured surfaces, and riming on the windward side of objects. Slabs typically form just below ridgelines and along open gully walls (cross loading). You can steer around slopes above 35 degrees where you see signs of new and old wind transport.

    (1/9/2026) Photo: Payton Schiff

    An example of widespread wind effect and cross loading along a slope in the East South zone.

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    Saturday will be another day of variable cloud coverage, so we can't rule out the possibility of snow warming and weakening. There is still a lot of fresh, dry snow out there that will be easily affected by the weather. When you notice large clumps of snow falling from trees or cliffs and roller balls forming, mark that as a sign that the snowpack is warming and weakening. Pay attention to the terrain around you as sluffs can start in steep terrain above, and carry you into terrain traps below. If the sun comes out enough that surfaces get sticky and moist, you'll want to retreat to more sheltered terrain. We suspect that at upper elevations, the snowpack will remain too cold and hardened by the wind to be as easily affected.

    (12/31/2025)

    A small natural wet loose on a SE aspect of Mt Herman.

    Photo: Jason Speer

Avalanche Discussion

NWAC is aware of an avalanche involvement in the East Central Zone, Teanaway River/Longs Pass area. Information is currently limited. We are working with local authorities and Search and Rescue personnel. We will update once more information is available.

On Friday, an NWAC Forecaster traveled around Darland Mountain. They found very shallow conditions - approximately 1 foot of snow - at lower elevations. At upper elevations, they found anywhere from 2 to 5.5 feet, depending on aspect. On a deeper aspect, they found rounding buried surface hoar just above a crust buried about 2 feet deep. This layer failed to propagate in large column tests, but may have been the culprit layer in avalanches observed in nearby zones. They also observed widespread wind effect from stormy weather earlier in the week.

Precipitation totals for this week reported by weather stations are 2.3 inches at Bumping Ridge and 1.3 inches at Green Lake. Generally, 0.1 inches of precipitation is equivalent to 1 inch of snow, but most of this snow was low density, so observed snow depths were initially much deeper before settlement. It is likely that average snowpack depths are deeper the closer you are to the Cascade Crest as these areas received more snow throughout the week.

Despite all this awesome new snow, open creeks, downed logs, and other hazards remain obstacles at lower elevations and in areas with shallower snowpacks. They may be obscured by new snow now, so take your time as you move around the backcountry. In choosing terrain, consider the consequences of a slide. Look for slopes with a clean runout free of bone-breaking trees, creeks, and rocks. 

Please consider submitting an observation online or on the AvyApp if you get out into the zone; your information helps NWAC Forecasters write more accurate forecasts.

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