East Slopes South

The East South zone should experience its warmest temperatures of 2021 thus far. While we expect the snowpack can handle the warming, keep a watchful eye out for evidence to the contrary such as fresh loose wet avalanches that gouge deeper than the top few inches of snow. At upper elevations, continue to steer around shallow wind slabs in steep, rocky, or extreme terrain.

The upper snowpack in the East South zone should consist of a mix of crusts, shallow layers of dry snow, with thinner and fewer crusts on colder northerly aspects. On Friday, temperatures rose into the upper 30's to mid-40's at 4500-6000 ft elevations. Temperatures are forecast to be a few degrees warmer on Saturday with mostly clear skies giving way to mid-level clouds. We expect small avalanches entraining the top few inches of recent snow once surface crusts break down on Saturday. These avalanches pose a threat in steep, constricted, or rocky terrain where an avalanche a small avalanche knocking you off your feet becomes problematic.

These are the warmest temperatures the region has seen in some time. Typically, a significant warm-up causes alarm as we head into spring. With a settled upper snowpack in place, in this case, it should raise your awareness for signs of unexpected avalanche activity. Keep an eye out for anything larger than the widespread shallow 2-3" wet avalanches that we forecast. Any signs of larger avalanches could indicate that water percolates down to or wakes up a deeper weak layer such as the mid-January crust-facet combo. Please help improve your forecast and report any such avalanche activity to NWAC. 

Moderate W winds blew the incremental additions of new snow into slabs. An observation on Friday from just west of the East South in the Crystal Lakes Basin area suggests that winds continue to load lee slopes, creating shallow but reactive slabs. Pay particular attention on N through E aspects where the snow has stayed colder. These slabs could knock you off your feet in steep, rocky terrain features where the drifts are 6" or deeper. Use your powers of observation to identify the signs of recently wind-transported snow. Look for pillow-like drifts, fresh cornices, and stiff or textured snow as a sign that you could trigger a wind slab avalanche. Steer around steep start zones and slopes over 35 degrees where you see these signs.

Cornices near the Cascade Crest may be leaning precariously. Give them a wide berth as you travel along ridgelines and on the slopes below, particularly during periods of sunshine.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.