Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A weak storm will bring light snow and wind to the zone. You can trigger small slab avalanches where the wind forms fresh drifts of snow just below ridges. Choose lower-angle terrain where you identify stiff, wind-drifted snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Light snow and southwest winds should increase through the day on Sunday. By afternoon, you could trigger shallow wind slab avalanches on leeward slopes steeper than 35 degrees. 

    Blowing snow will help you identify which aspects are actively being loaded.  Other clues to these avalanches are long shooting cracks or observing stiffer snow as you move higher in terrain.  If you're unsure, stick to lower angle and more sheltered terrain away from ridgelines.

    (2/9/2024)

    You can trigger similar wind slabs on Saturday that will likely break on the recent crust. This small skier-triggered avalanche occurred in the Washington Pass area on Friday.  SE aspect, 7200 ft. 

     

    Photo: Harry Keane

Avalanche Discussion

We have limited information from upper elevations across the zone. The forecast team is unsure how the upper elevation snowpack is bonding to the early February crust. So, as you climb into the alpine, ease into the terrain and be ready to make your own assessments.

Across much of the zone, you'll find 3-5" of new snow over the recent crust at mid and upper elevations, with more the higher you go. On Friday, an observer traveled up to 8,000ft in the Stuart Range and found little signs of instability. Observers have been finding surface hoar over the early February crust, including forecasters on Tuesday at Blewett Pass. It was difficult to identify, but the feel of slipperyness over the crust beneath a few inches of new snow was a hint that it was there (see photo below). Any new wind slabs that do form could become reactive with potential for buried surface hoar or facets over the crust. Check out another observation from the Wenatchee Mountains where they found collapsing of the new snow on the crust. 

Your avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations are extremely valuable to the forecasters at NWAC. Help create a more accurate avalanche forecast by submitting your observations here. 

 

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