Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Another warm day on Tuesday means you'll still have to manage risk from wet avalanches and cornice collapses. Avoid lingering beneath corniced ridges or steep rocks and cliffs, and move to lower-angle terrain if you begin to sink deeply into wet, heavy snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    As Tuesday heats up and high clouds move in, it might feel even warmer than Monday. The high clouds could create a greenhouse effect and even snow on high-elevation northern aspects could start to warm up. Watch for rollerballs, snow shedding off rocks and cliffs, and wet snow surfaces as the first indication of wet avalanches. Stick to lower-angle terrain if you're sinking deeply into heavy, wet snow, and don't linger beneath steep, unsupported rocks or cliffs still holding snow. 

    Large cornices exist across many ridgelines and alpine features across the zone. They often fail much farther back than expected. During these warm sunny periods, they can become easier to trigger and may fail naturally. Give these some space, especially with the warming trend.

    (3/17/2024)

    Wet loose debris in sun between Whistler Mountain and Cutthroat Peak

    Photo: Willie Webster

  • Cornices

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

    Another night with a minimal re-freeze overnight might make cornice collapses even more likely on Tuesday. A warmup in March brought down some of this snow, but plenty is still left hanging on. Managing this problem is all about limiting your exposure to overhead hazard. Pay attention to what's above you. Choose routes that minimize or eliminate any time you spend on or under these features. Shed-style avalanches can occur even in the morning and are much more challenging to predict.

    (12/12/2023)

    Example; A  cornice near Blue Lake Peak. 

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Preliminary Report: NWAC is saddened to report an avalanche fatality as a result of a cornice fall on Mount St. Helens. On Friday, March 29, 2024, a snowboarder summited the peak. While standing near the top, he triggered a cornice and fell into the crater triggering a large slab avalanche on the slope below. NWAC is working with Skamania Co Sheriff’s office and SAR to compile a report. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community.

Discussion:

While the weather for Tuesday will begin to transition back to a more active period, we'll still have freezing levels over 10,000ft and only some high clouds building throughout the day. During these spring-like warmups, you could see shed-style avalanches and heavy chunks of snow falling off various places in our mountains. Stay aware of your surroundings and be prepared to back off of objectives if snowpack conditions deteriorate. A mild storm will bring temperatures crashing back down on Wednesday, but unfortunately, only a dusting of snow will make it to the northeastern Cascades. 

We're primarily worried about the snow over the 3/21 crust during this warmup. Its depth likely varies significantly around the zone. On southerly slopes, you may not be able to discern it at all. Often, this is the prominent layer about 1 foot below the surface. We also haven't ruled out avalanche failing on deeper layers. These would most likely be in higher elevation north-facing terrain with a large trigger (such as a cornice). 

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