Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

You can trigger avalanches in slabs of wind-drifted snow below ridges and wind-exposed features. Watch for blowing snow, and cracks shooting through the snow as signs of the danger. Expect a dramatic increase in avalanche danger overnight and into Thursday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Steer around steep, wind-loaded features and convex roll-overs in wind-loaded terrain. To identify wind-loaded slopes, look for actively blowing snow, cornice formations, and pillowlike drifts. Avoid steep slopes on leeward sides of ridges and below cliffs. Slabs previously formed Monday night and Tuesday. You may see more blowing snow forming fresh slabs on Wednesday.

    (12/22/2023)

    An example of fresh drifts with cracking in steep ridgeline terrain.  

    Photo: Willie Webster

Avalanche Discussion

Expect an intense and prolonged storm to impact the area starting Wednesday night. It will likely last well into the weekend and could bring very dangerous avalanche conditions.

On Tuesday, an observer reported 6" of new snow at the Silver Star trailhead and fresh wind-drifted slabs on Delancey Ridge. He reported some signs of instability in these fresh wind slabs. The snow from the past week was not as well bonded to the 12/20 crust as near the top of Washington Pass. The crust is about 1 foot below the surface on sun-exposed slopes. On shaded slopes, the crust is barely discernable. 

Near Blackpine Lake on Thursday, observers reported small avalanches failing on a layer of buried surface hoar. The distribution of the surface hoar is uncertain, though it could exist in other areas of the eastern mountains and foothills. The snowpack in the eastern portion of the zone is shallower and may hold more weak layers. Pay attention to red flag signs of instability, such as whumping collapses, and consider digging down to identify and layers of weak snow.

You can contribute to the avalanche forecast. Please let us know what you see in the mountains by submitting an observation. 

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