Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

New snow is slowly stacking up near the crest. You could trigger a large avalanche above treeline, where wind has drifted it into a more cohesive slab. Be especially cautious near ridgelines, cornices, and of very steep features below large cliffs. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    As the new snow amounts slowly increase, so to does the size of potential avalanches you could trigger. Look for signs of recent wind transport as you gain elevation, especialy as you near ridgelines and cornices. Pay attention to signs of instability such as long shooting cracks. Use small test slopes and other practical tests to asess how the new snow is bonding to old crust layers.  Look and feel for stiffer, cohesive snow, and identify terrain you might want to steer around.

    With daytime warming, expect snow surfaces to warm and become moist at lower elevations, especially those that face south. 

    Example cross loaded gully above a snowmobile road.

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Expect more accumulating snow further west in the zone, as is typical with a storm on SW to W flow in the region. The sun could poke out during the day, if it does look for moistening snow surfaces. If your in an area with more than a few inches of new snow, then expect small wet loose avalanches to become possible.

On Thursday, Willie snowmobiled up to Harts Pass  finding some large debris piles to cross over on the way. The road was melting out quickly near Deadhorse Pt. He found a mix of sun crusts on the surface, though higher elevations looked to hold a cold, layered snowpack. We have minimal recent information from Washington Pass with the spring plowing operations just beginning.

Assess conditions as you travel using quick hand pits and test slopes to observe how new snow reacts. Before this recent snowfall, reports are that southern aspects have had supportable crusts, with only due north slopes holding onto cold, dry powder. However, easterly winds last week have also damaged snow surfaces, so expect to find plentiful wind-affect and scoured slopes under the new snow.

Regions covered