Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The snowpack is generally stable, but that doesn't mean every slope is safe. With another round of sunny, spring-like weather Sunday, pay attention as snow surfaces thaw throughout the day. You may be able to trigger small wet avalanches on the steepest sun-exposed slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Watch for changing conditions on southerly slopes as it warms up throughout the day. Steer around large terrain features greater than 35 degrees where you find wet unconsolidated snow surfaces. Identify terrain traps like gullies and cliffs where even a small avalanche could be consequential. Following several days of warm temperatures and rain, the lower elevation snowpack has mostly adjusted to being wet. Upper elevation slopes may hold a couple of inches of recent snow that could slide when it warms up. Avalanche hazard will be limited where you find firm and frozen snow surfaces. If you see rollerballs, pinwheels, or find your skis or sled sinking more than 6in deep into slushy wet snow, move to shady slopes or lower angle terrain.

    (1/10/2022)

     Small Wet Loose avalanches on a cut bank that occurred during a period of rain on 1/10.

    Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

The weather and avalanche conditions in the East South have been a rollercoaster ride so far in 2022. The first week of January brought 3-5ft of cold snowfall and a widespread natural avalanche cycle January 6-8. This past week was a major pattern change with warming temperatures and a mix of rain and high elevation snow. Sunny, spring-like conditions will continue through the weekend.

Many mountain weather stations throughout the East South zone recorded above freezing temperatures for the past 6 days. This mid-winter thaw caused widespread avalanches throughout the region, mostly during periods of rain earlier this past week. We believe the bulk of wet avalanches have run their course and continued activity is unlikely. 

NWAC forecasters found a generally strong and stable snowpack on January 10th in the Ahtanum Meadows/Darland Mountain area, but the East South is a large and variable zone. Neighboring zones and areas closer to the Cascade Crest have a different snowpack structure, and you could find that the western parts of East South may be more similar to the surrounding zones. If you travel in areas close to the crest or in the northernmost portion of the zone, make sure to read the forecast for the West South or East Central zones.

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