Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago.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

Highlights

Sunshine and warm temperatures may create loose wet avalanche danger on south-facing slopes in the afternoon. Use normal caution, and move off of steep slopes if you begin to sink into wet snow deeper than your ankle. Continue to be mindful of overhead hazards such as cornices.

Avalanche Discussion

About 2" of snow fell at Washington Pass on Sunday night. For the most part, this wasn't enough to create any avalanche danger. However, you may be able to find isolated areas of shallow wind slab at upper elevations. If you find more than 4" of new snow and signs of recent wind drifting, steer around wind loaded features in steeper or consequential terrain. You can use small test slopes to check how the new snow is bonding. 

With strong sun and warming temperatures on Tuesday, expect to be able to trigger small loose wet avalanches on slopes that face the sun after around noon. Once you begin to sink into the snow surface past your ankle, it's time to move on to a different aspect or less consequential slopes. Look for rollerballs and fresh, fan shaped avalanches as signs of these.

Attempt to make any up tracks out of the path of any potential cornice falls. While on ridgelines give cornices a wide margin, as they can break back further than you might expect.  Recent observations note large to very large cornice collapses in the Highway 20 area.

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