Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago.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

Winds will taper off, and snowfall will trend towards light showers on Monday, but it may be possible to trigger avalanches in wind drifted snow near ridges. Consider sticking to wind-sheltered terrain or traveling on lower angle routes to gain ridge tops. In the eastern portion of the zone, challenging travel on icy surfaces will likely remain the most significant hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    In areas close to the crest, up to a foot of new snow with strong winds fell overnight on Saturday. Snow showers and light to moderate winds will continue through Monday. Newly formed winds slabs are likely overlying surfaces such as slick crusts, windblown, or weak snow over the recent Valentine's Day Crust. Look for visual clues of wind-affected snow such as round pillowlike drifts, textured surface snow, and cornices. You can use your ski pole, probe, or hand to quickly dig and look at depths of new snow and wind slabs. Look for red-flag signs of instability such as shooting cracks, recent avalanches, or collapsing. These are signs you should stick to wind-sheltered or lower-angle terrain. Precipitation amounts tapered quickly east of the Cascade Crest, and there is likely little avalanche hazard in the eastern portion of the zone. 

    (2/20/2022) Shooting cracks in a wind-loaded area.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

While snow showers are forecasted to continue into the day on Monday, you can also expect extended sun breaks. So there is a possibility of isolated wet loose avalanches on very steep slopes in direct sun. Cold temperatures will likely keep this problem isolated, but if your see rollerballs or the new snow becomes wet and heavy, it might be time to move to shadier or lower angle slopes. 

While we are moving back into a weather pattern more favorable to snow, the previous weather pattern has taken a toll on the snowpack. Warm temperatures, sunshine, and strong winds all played a role in creating a wide variety of snow surfaces, including icy slopes, rough frozen snow, and breakable crust. These surfaces will maintain challenging travel conditions in areas further east in the zone. In addition, many shallow spots in the snowpack continue to melt out, and rocks, trees, and creeks have reemerged. 

Last weekend, NWAC forecasters traveled to Darland Mountain in the East South zone and found a strong and stable snowpack. You can read more about the conditions in this observation. Unfortunately, many southern aspects and ridges melted out to bare ground, clear evidence of the extended dry, warm weather of January and early February. Check out more information about current snow depth climatology throughout the region HERE. Thankfully, valley inversions have preserved some snow at lower elevations, so the riding conditions and groomed trails are still open to travel.

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