Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

You can trigger an avalanche in pockets of wind drifted snow on Sunday. Reduce your exposure to steep wind loaded terrain if you notice active drifting or shooting cracks under your feet or machine. As the day heats, you may notice small wet loose slides on steep sunny slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    The combination of a few inches of new snow and moderate wind speeds have likely created shallow wind slabs on leeward features. Fortunately, this is a fairly easy problem to navigate around. Look for clues such as blowing snow, sharp cornices, textured surfaces, and pillow-like slabs to help you identify slopes of concern. Pump the brakes and avoid nearby loaded slopes  if you notice shooting cracks or hear snow that sounds hollow like a drum. You can reduce your exposure to this problem by sticking to more sheltered slopes out of the wind zone or sticking to scoured surfaces. While most of these avalanches should remain relatively small, some could grow large enough to take you for a nasty ride.

     

    (3/6/2023)

    Pump the brakes if you notice shooting cracks in drifted snow. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Slightly warmer temperatures and filtering sunshine will set the stage for wet loose avalanches on steep solar aspects. This problem will likely be more prevalent in areas that have new or soft snow at the surface. Pay attention to slopes overhead and look for initial signs of instability like snow shedding from trees and rocks.  Rollerballs and pinwheels may be more prominent as it warms up. Scale back your exposure to steep sunny slopes if you are seeing wet avalanches bigger and more widespread than expected.

     

    (12/3/2022)

    Steer around steep solar slopes if you notice signs like this. 

    Photo: Zack McGill- Cascade Mtn Ascents

Avalanche Discussion

This storm pattern has been a tough one for the East South Zone. You’ll likely encounter a bit of variability across the zone. Based on weather station data, you’ll encounter the most new snow (1-3 in) on the western edges of the zone (closer to White or Chinook Pass). It's these areas where you’ll likely find the freshest wind slabs or most prominent loose wet activity.  Areas further east have struggled to even pick up traces of new snow. 

All this storm snow fell on a variety of surfaces formed over the past week. Warm and sunny weather created a crust on all but the highest shaded aspects. In some places, this could be very slick and icy, in others, more breakable and punchy. While we don’t have any direct information about high northerly aspects, if nearby zones are any indication, you may still find preserved soft dry snow in these locations. 

For more information about the deeper snowpack, check out NWAC Forecaster Katie Warren’s observation from Ahtanum Meadows this past week.

 

Regions covered