Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

 On Monday, you can trigger avalanches in wind-drifted snow just below ridges and cliffs. Watch for cracking in drifted snow as a sign to stick to slopes less than 35 degrees. Light snow, wind, and slightly cooler temperatures will continue to build wind-drifted slabs Sunday night and Monday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Southwest wind and recent snow drifted slabs of 1-1.5 feet deep. Watch for signs such as ongoing blowing snow or cracking in pillow-like drifts to indicate the danger. These slabs formed over slick or weak snow layers and may still be easy to trigger. You can avoid these avalanches by steering around drifts or sticking to wind-sheltered terrain. Keep your distance from fresh cornices, as they can fall and trigger slides.  

    (1/30/2026)

    A natural slab avalanche on a leeward slope. Temperatures were warming, and this may've been triggered by cornice fall. Poster/Pica Peak, NE, 7,200ftSS-N-D1.5-I

     

Avalanche Discussion

Sunday brought cooler temperatures and another 3-4" of new snow. Southwest winds may have been strong enough for light wind transport at upper elevations. About 1 foot of snow has accumulated since the 28th with predominantly southwest wind. The recent snow rests on a crust on most slopes.

On Friday and Saturday, observers reported triggering wet avalanches at middle and upper elevations due to rain and warming temperatures. Most of these slides were small. On Friday, they reported one large natural slab avalanche on a leeward, northerly aspect at upper elevations of Poster/Pica Peak. This may have resulted from a cornice collapse.

Before this storm, weak snow and surface hoar were widespread at lower elevations, while upper elevations had a mixture of thick supportable crusts on sunny aspects and breakable crusts on shadier slopes. Weak layers may be preserved above or below the crust that was buried on January 28th. Some observations indicate that the recent snow didn't bond well to the crust. As you travel, track the bond at this recent interface by using quick hand pits, slope tests, and snowpack tests.

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