Avalanche Forecast

Moderate east winds will become northeasterly Friday night and continue loading westerly aspects through mid-day Saturday. 

Shallow winds slabs may be possible Saturday and generally found on non-traditional westerly aspects near and above treeline. Pay attention to how much if any new snow was received in the area you're traveling and may have been available for transport. 

Due to the low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation. Many areas below treeline do not have enough snow (new or existing) to pose an avalanche hazard. 

Since the warm and wet start to February, fair weather through mid-February has led to generally thick surface crusts, as well as further deterioration of the snow cover below treeline. 

6 inches of new snow accumulated Thursday night and Friday at the NWAC mid-station at Mission Ridge. These new snowfall amounts were likely representative of most of east slope locations above 4000 ft except in the northeast Cascades where only an inch or two of new snow likely accumulated. By early Friday, east winds were beginning significant snow transport near treeline and fresh wind slabs were likely developing on westerly aspects.  

While the January 15th facet/crust layers can still be identified in parts of the NE Cascades, this persistent weak layer has been stabilizing and become unlikely to trigger. As a result the Persistent Slab problem has been removed from the northeast zone.