Boletín de aludes

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Wed
Alta montaña
3 · Notable
Límite del bosque
3 · Notable
Bajo el límite
2 · Moderado
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 6 months ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

The snowpack is ripe for triggering avalanches that run on weak layers in the upper snowpack. Avalanches will be the largest in wind-loaded terrain, but consider any steep open slope as suspect. Choose low-angle routes and avoid exposure to avalanche-prone slopes above you. 

Problemas de aludes

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Likely
    Tamaño
    1–2

    Triggering large avalanches that break on facets over a crust or buried surface hoar remains a likely concern with the new load of snow. There have been several reports of human-triggered slab avalanches breaking on weak layers around Crystal Mountain and up north near Mission Ridge. Just over the ridge at Crystal Mountain, avalanche professionals reported some of these avalanches remotely triggering and failing on buried surface hoar. This bullseye information is hard to overlook, especially when we know the structure is widespread across the region. 

    Wind loaded areas have the potential to produce the largest avalanches, but any steep slopes should be considered suspect. Since these weak layers aren’t too deep yet, you can still use hand pits and snowpack tests to look for look and test for these layers. However, they can only prove its presence, not its absence. They shouldn’t be used to determine if a slope if safe. 

    With the amount of recent avalanche activity and with active weather, just simply avoid travel and under steep slopes. Shooting cracks, whumphing collapses, or recent avalanches are great reasons to dial it back and avoid steep terrain. 

    (2/23/2026)

    A shallow but wide natural avalanche on the south side of Jove Peak in the Stevens Pass zone occurred on February 23rd. This avalanche is suspected to have failed in faceted snow above the 2/8 crust.

    SS-R3-D1.5-I 

    Photo: Nick Kelley

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–1.5

    Snow levels are forecast to hover in the 3500-4500 ft range, meaning lower and some mid elevations may start feeling wet, especially if rain-on-snow occurs. These shouldn’t grow too big, but they could be easy to trigger when snow transitions to rain or right around the snow line. Look for rollerballs, pinwheels, and sticky snow surfaces as indicators that the surface snow is becoming wet and weak.

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday is shaping up to be a dangerous day with gradual warming and continued snowfall. 

Monday was an active day of avalanches in the neighboring West South and East Central. The Crystal Mountain Pro Patrol reported triggering large avalanches (up to D2.5) that ran on buried surface hoar. In some areas, these even triggered remotely. Up at Mission Ridge in the East Central, avalanche professionals also triggered slabs in wind-drifted snow that failed on buried surface hoar. These are in addition to several similar avalanche occurrences on Sunday where skiers remotely triggered avalanches in sheltered terrain (observation here).

While these observations are not from the East South, we know this structure exists, and the likelihood of triggering is just as high given the recent load of new snow. If you haven’t already, now is a good time to adjust your travel practices to match the unique snowpack conditions that currently exist around the Cascades.

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

 Let us know what you see by submitting an observation here or on the AvyApp. 

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