East Slopes North

Temperatures will cool slightly on Thursday, decreasing the chance of wet avalanches. However, an isolated sunny rock slab or cliff could still shed snow, so stay aware of the overhead terrain. More widespread risks are exposed rocks, creeks, and holes. 

A weak weather system will brush our region on Thursday, but it won't have much impact on conditions. We'll probably only see increased cloud cover further west and slightly cooler temperatures at mid and upper elevations. The low elevations to the east will stay cold and cloudy.  While we expect the cooler temperatures to reduce wet loose avalanche activity, the rouge rock slab or cliff could still shed snow or produce a glide avalanche. With this in mind, pay attention to these potential overhead hazards. NWAC Observers were out in the Washington Pass area on Wednesday. On average snow depths were between 2-3ft, shallower on southern slopes. The cold air pooled just below pass level, and temperatures at higher elevations were warm in the 40°Fs. There was plenty of evidence of wet avalanches, some occurring during the day, and older piles of debris from the past few days. All avalanches were small. They reported various wind-affected surfaces, from older wind slabs that became weak and faceted to hard slabs that were supportable to boots. Despite the wind effect, these slabs were not reactive. In sheltered areas, north aspects still held cold, dry snow. They found low-angle southern slopes in alpine terrain that harbored what one might call supportable "spring corn" snow, even though it's only early December. Take care as you travel - many early-season obstacles, such as trees, rocks, logs, and creeks, are exposed or sometimes barely hidden underneath wind drifted surfaces.