East Slopes North

Steep, sunny slopes could still produce small wet avalanches, but Friday's cooler temperatures should help limit widespread wet avalanche activity. Upper elevations could harbor isolated pockets of wind-drifted snow where a small avalanche is possible. Use caution and consider the consequences of small slides if you're venturing into extreme terrain. 

Recent storms brought 5-7 inches of snow to the Washington Pass area, with higher snow totals in the upper elevations. The highest elevations may pick up a few more inches of snow overnight, but most of the precipitation will fall as rain, and temperatures should be much cooler by Friday morning. So, we expect most wet loose avalanche activity to occur with overnight precipitation and the hazard to be minimal by Friday morning. That said, steep, sunny slopes could still produce small wet slides, and cornice failures are always a hazard. Avoid traveling under large, overhanging cornices, slopes with open glide cracks, and cliffs still holding slabs of snow.

The recent storms also brought windy conditions, and at upper elevations in isolated, complex terrain features, you could trigger small wind slabs. Watch for deep drifts below ridgelines on lee slopes. If you observe recent avalanches or cracking in wind-affected snow, steer around steep terrain.  

WSDOT forecasters on Washington Pass reported small wet loose avalanches and rollerballs in the recent snow on Wednesday and Thursday. They also observed some preserved dry snow on due north aspects at upper elevations. 

If you’re venturing into terrain east of Mazama, there is a chance for deeper avalanches on older weak layers. If you dig and find a layer of weak, sugary facets or weak, moist snow in the middle of the snowpack, steer clear of steep, open slopes. Falling cornices could initiate much deeper, larger avalanches in these areas.

Observations have become scarce and infrequent, adding to forecast uncertainty. You can help contribute to the forecast by submitting an observation.