Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Continue to put a large buffer between you and terrain connected to large avalanche paths on the northern half of the compass.  The likelihood of triggering a persistent slab avalanche may be slowly ticking down, but the severity is the same.  Sunshine and warmer weather should lead to small wet loose avalanches on steep sunny slopes near and west of the Pass.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    This isn’t a snowpack set up to mess around with.  From late February through the first few days of March, multiple very large and widely propagating avalanches have been reported. In two separate involvements near Harts Pass, riders were buried and in one incident, one person was killed. Put plenty of space between you and steep open slopes on the north side of the compass. 

    The January Drought Layer is about 3 feet below the surface near and east of Washington Pass.  This layer is deeper further west.  Aside from the widespread recent avalanches, you may not see other signs of instability.  Avalanches may need a larger trigger like a snowmobile or cornice to impact deeper layers.  These avalanches could break across entire slopes, run long distances, and even reach valley bottoms. The only way to deal with this issue is to be diligent and avoid this terrain.

    (2/28/2025)

    A large avalanche near Hart's Pass that caught 2 snowmobilers and resulted in one fatality on February 28th. 

    HS-AM-D2.5-R4-O. Cone Mtn, NE, 6,800ft

    Photo: NCH

  • Loose Wet

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

    The far western part of the zone saw a few inches of snow Tuesday night, more than areas further east.   In areas and elevations with a few inches of recent snow, you'll likely see rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches release on steep sunny slopes and below sunlit rock faces as the day warms up.  These avalanches are unlikely to be large, but make sure to use care around extreme terrain features and terrain traps that would amplify the consequences of a small avalanche.  

    Wet, loose avalanches often initiate where snow sheds off rocks and trees onto the slope below. This image shows both small rollerballs and wet loose avalanches. 

    Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mtn Ascents

Avalanche Discussion

A dusting to a few inches of snow fell Tuesday night.  Overnight temperatures have fallen below freezing at night for several days, including lower elevations, helping to bring about an end to what had been a very active wet snow avalanche period. 

On Sunday, NWAC Forecasters visited the site of the avalanche fatality near Harts Pass that occurred on 2/28. You can see the initial observation, and a report will be issued in the next few weeks. In addition to this avalanche, forecasters found widespread persistent slab, wet loose, and wet slab avalanches up to at least D3. They encountered a natural wet avalanche that ran that day and experienced collapsing and shooting cracks.

While the January Drought Layer has been in our snowpack for the past month. It wasn’t until the late February blustery storm followed by warm temperatures combined to “wake it up.” Nearly daily avalanches and collapses have occurred into this past weekend, but have now slowed. The culprit? Weak facets buried 2–3 ft (70-100cm) below the surface. This problem isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

While persistent slab avalanches have been the focus since the late February storm, the warm weather the past week brought down impressive wet avalanches, some up to size D3 (very large). Natural wet slides occurred as recently as Sunday near Harts Pass including one that broke trees and gouged to the ground (SW, 4500ft). 

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

Preliminary Report: On Friday, February 28, three snowmobilers were riding near Harts Pass in the East North zone when they triggered a large slab avalanche. Two riders were caught and carried. One rider was fully buried and killed. The other was partially buried and injured. NWAC is working with local avalanche professionals to conduct an investigation. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community. (NE, 6,800ft HS-AM-D2.5-R4-O)

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