Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Friday will be another mostly clear, calm day, with temperatures well above freezing. You can trigger avalanches on steep, sunny slopes and at upper elevations where the wind drifted slabs of snow. Use caution on steep slopes holding snow, especially just below ridges. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Watch for red-flag signs of danger, such as fresh slab avalanches, whumphing collapses, and cracks shooting through the snow. Use caution on leeward slopes where you find deeply drifted pillows of snow.  Avalanches could be easier to trigger on shaded northwest-to-northeast aspects in wind-loaded terrain. Leeward slopes below ridges and cliffs could still produce avalanches big enough to bury you. 

    The wind drifted slabs over a crust/weak layer, which exists primarily on northerly aspects. On the 24th, there were reports of natural avalanches on this crust, and on the 25th, observers reported ongoing signs of instability at upper elevations.

    (3/15/2026)

    We watched a small loose slide off the cliffs trigger this mini wind slab avalanche. 

    Photo: Katie Warren

  • Loose Wet

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

    As the snow surface warms, watch for moist snow, rollerballs, and natural wet avalanches to indicate increasing danger. If you see these signs, stay out from under steep, overhead terrain. Give yourself options to move to lower-angle or shadier slopes. Use caution where avalanches could push you into rocks, trees, and other terrain traps.

    Expect mostly clear skies and much warmer temperatures than on Thursday. You'll find clearer skies east of the Cascade Crest. 

    (12/27/2025)

    As the day warmed up, new, low density snow was easily easily weakened by the sunshine.

Avalanche Discussion

On Thursday morning, observers reported another 3" of snow over wind-affected surfaces. Westerly winds were strong on Wednesday night. Sun-exposed southeast through west aspects warmed, and some produced small wet avalanches. Expect a crust on most sunny slopes on Friday morning. 

On Wednesday, an observer on Silverstar Mtn reported whumpfing collapses, propagating test results, and recent avalanches in wind-affected snow. Conditions on Tuesday were more reactive near Harts Pass. Observers there reported reactive conditions with natural avalanches running on a crust on northwest-to-northeast aspects. They also reported collapsing and cracking. Southerly aspects were less reactive. 

Rain on the 16-20th formed a crust that was then buried by a small amount of dry snow. The weak layer remained on northerly aspects, but it melted on southerly aspects due to the sun on 22-23rd. On Monday, observers reported that the snow melted into the crust below on southerly, sun-exposed slopes. 

Snow cover is thin on southerly slopes and at low elevations. Be aware of exposed rocks and open creeks. WSDOT has begun plowing operations on Hwy 20 between Silver Star trailhead and Newhalem. The road will be closed to all traffic on weekdays while workers and machinery are operating.

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