East Slopes Central

Be aware of your overhead exposure with warmer temperatures in the forecast.  Chunks of snow or even the odd wet loose avalanche may shed from steep, rocky, and sunny terrain.  Allow extra time for variable and often challenging travel conditions.  

We'll start to see temperatures creep up over the next few days, especially above the inversion with the mildest, above freezing temperatures often found at upper elevations both day and night.  Even though the overall hazard will remain Low, you'll need to start thinking about the possibility of impactful wet snow avalanches in isolated terrain features.  It will be colder at lower elevations and in the shade, but look up and identify what terrain is already baking in the sun. We could see chunks of snow shed from steep, rocky faces, the odd wet loose avalanche release below sunlit cliffs, or cornice fall.  

If you poke into higher, more remote, or craggier areas there’s always an outside chance you’ll find a small, isolated pocket of wind drifted snow. An observation from Cascade Pass last week provides a great example of these potential rogue avalanches.  

This extended period of dry weather has left us with a potpourri of travel conditions.  On sunnier aspects, you'll find crusts of varying thicknesses. Steeper sunny slopes will likely soften during the day in this milder pattern (and potentially allow for some enjoyable turns). In shaded terrain, breakable crusts, firm slopes, wind-textured snow, and recycled powder (facets) all exist. The most treacherous travel is in the trees. Icy, irregular snow can make for rugged time-consuming travel.  Allow yourself extra time to deal with the variable conditions.  Keep tracking those weak snow surfaces as we wait for snowier weather to return.