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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Highlights

There's a chance for triggering small avalanches where the wind forms shallow drifts of snow at upper elevations, and if you find wet snow at middle elevations. In either of these areas, you can minimize your risk by sticking to slopes under 35 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Watch for triggering avalanches in lingering areas of weak, wet snow, especially at middle elevations or near trees. This week, the snowpack saw significant rain and warming temperatures. Clear skies on Saturday night should promote freezing, though it may take time for the snowpack to fully freeze. Move to lower-angle slopes to minimize your risk of triggering a slide.

    (12/11/2025)

    A very large wet avalanche above Hart's Pass Road. This likely ran between Dec 9-11th.

    Photo: Justin O’Hara

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Southwest gusts could continue to transport any available snow, forming slabs near the highest ridgelines. You may see subtle blowing snow or small drifts that formed recently. You can minimize your risk by picking your way around these shallow pillows of snow or staying off the leeward slopes. While we don't expect these avalanches to be big, they could be dangerous in steep, consequential terrain.

    (12/6/2025)

    A skier-triggered wind slab avalanche from last week near Blue Lake. 6700ft, WNW. SS-AS-D1.5-I

    Photo: Will Govus

Avalanche Discussion

After a wet week, the snowpack is beginning to freeze. The East North zone managed to withstand the warm temperatures for most of the storm, allowing snowpacks to grow substantially (+30-50 inches). However, rain likely reached above 6800 ft on Wednesday night for multiple hours. Observers reported large natural avalanches near Washington Pass on Tuesday and near Hart's Pass, both on Tuesday and Thursday. Another storm could bring significant precipitation, a mix of snow and rain, Sunday night through Monday night. Much-anticipated cooling is still on the horizon for mid-week. 

Flooding, washouts, and landslides have affected many communities. Numerous mudslides and debris piles currently block access to the Silverstar gate on Hwy 20 as well as Hart's Pass road. Expect difficult access and challenging travel at low elevations. Information has been limited to weather station data for a few days, and our confidence in the forecast is lower than usual. 

With the warm start to the 25-26 winter season, we have less snowpack information than usual to start daily forecast operations. For zones and elevation bands with less snow than needed for avalanche hazard, we will issue a forecast with No Rating. Anticipated avalanche and weather conditions will still be updated daily. NWAC will issue an avalanche danger rating for a zone when enough snow to produce avalanches has accumulated at middle and upper elevations.

Regions covered