Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Don't get lulled into a false sense of security as Spring officially starts. The closer you are to the Cascade Crest and the higher in elevation you go, the more likely it will be to trigger a large slab avalanche, especially in exposed terrain. Look for signs of wind transport, such as uneven snow surfaces and blowing snow. Stick to lower angle, sheltered slopes if you experience long shooting cracks from your equipment or audible collapsing.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The higher in elevation you travel, the more likely it will be to find terrain that a wind slab will have formed in. Older slabs will be less reactive, but triggering one could create an avalanche large enough to bury you. Newer slabs will be smaller but could be found in atypical locations due to shifty wind directions. Avalanche danger will be lower in areas further east such as the Wenatchees.

    Wind slabs typically form just below ridgelines and in terrain features that are gully or chute shaped, but sometimes slabs can form in "sneakier" terrain, such as in burn areas or lower down on slopes than you might expect when the wind is strong. Look for clear signs of wind transport: dune-like drifts, cornice formation, and blowing snow. As you move about the terrain and the snow underneath you begins to feel denser and look unevenly distributed, assume wind slabs probably lurk nearby.

    Additional Discussion:

    Storm slab instabilities may exist closer to the Cascade Crest, where higher snow totals are forecasted. If you plan on traveling in these western parts of the zone, approach steep, unsupported terrain with some suspicion. You can use a small test slope or simple hand pits to help you gauge the reactivity of the recent storm snow. Cracking and collapsing similarly indicate instability in new snow.

    (3/16/2025)

    Looking up at the crown of a skier triggered wind slab avalanche on Red Mountain South.

    Photo: Anonymous

Avalanche Discussion

Welcome Spring! You sure do feel wintery, and we're here for it!

We are in the midst of a storm cycle with some nuanced weather inputs. There is some uncertainty regarding the convergence zone of the system and the subsequent rate of snowfall. An afternoon warm up mid-storm on Thursday could increase the sensitivity of storm slabs. The wind has been shifting from west to east and back to west, increasing in strength with each day. We are tracking a layered snowpack that we are still trying to nail down the properties of. All the while, backcountry travelers have been stepping out and triggering avalanches. There has been at least one reported catch and carry every day since last Thursday throughout the forecast region. Two of these involvements happened in the East Central zone. Fortunately, all parties were uninjured and skied out under their own power. 

All of this stands to serve as a good reminder that we must ease into terrain after stormy periods, regardless of the time of year or however powder hungry we feel. Ultimately, just keep your objectives simple. Exposed terrain is going to be the most likely place to trigger an avalanche, so have a solid route plan that keeps you in sheltered terrain while we let the snowpack adjust to its new load.

Persistent slabs are still on the watch list in the adjacent zone to the north. While we’ve put this problem to bed in the East Central, it’s worth considering in very northern portions or more far-flung parts of the zone. To reduce your risk, you can default to simpler terrain that is planar and short.

You can help us gather more data by submitting an observation HERE or via the Avy App.

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