Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

As you climb higher in elevation, you may encounter shallow wind slabs forming.  You will find these slabs forming below cornices and in east-facing start zones.  Give steep slopes space if you notice cracks shooting out from your sled/feet or notice recent avalanche activity. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    As you climb in elevation look for fresh, shallow slabs of wind drifted snow to be forming. A couple inches of new snow with increasing ridgeline winds will create shallow, isolated slabs at higher elevations.

    Look for these slabs to be forming in east-facing start zones and the lee-sides of ridges. Fresh cornices are often an indicator of a wind-loaded slope beneath. 

    Use small, inconsequential test slopes to check the reactivity of the newly formed slabs.  Cracks shooting out from your skis or machine clearly indicate that you've found an unstable wind slab. Avoid larger slopes if you notice these signs  or see recent avalanche activity. 

     

    Shooting cracks - a red flag that should not be ignored.  Avoid wind loaded slopes if you notice signs like this. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Chances are you will encounter challenging travel conditions across the East-South.  You will likely find a few inches of snow sitting on the most recent 1/15 rain crust.  Having the proper gear such as traction may help you have a safer and more enjoyable day in the mountains.  Additionally,  as we move forward this new snow sitting on the recent crust will be a layer worth watching. It could act as the perfect, slick bed surface for future avalanches to run on.  As we start building more of a slab on this crust, be sure to dig down and check how the snow is bonding to the crust. 

We have limited information regarding deeper buried weak layers across the east-south. Triggering an avalanche on one of these buried weak layers has likely become harder due to the recent warm-up, however not impossible. Consider this in your planning if you travel at the higher elevations where minimal rain fell, which may preserved old weak layers from early January. 

If you get into the East-South, please let us know what you encounter by submitting a public observation! 

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