Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You can trigger avalanches in areas where several inches of  wet, gloppy snow exists over a crust. Rollerballs and pinwheels are a sign that surfaces are becoming wet and weak. Continue to use caution and evaluate terrain features that encourage wind drifting, such as the leeward sides of ridgelines and on steep alpine features. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Slight warming and possible sun breaks will maintain the threat of wet avalanches on Monday. Think about moving to less steep or shadier aspects once you notice rollerballs, pinwheels releasing, or sticky wet surfaces under your feet or machine. The firm underlying crust has proven to be a great surface for wet avalanches to run on, so continue to use caution and default to less steep slopes once you see obvious signs of warming. 

    (4/6/2024) Photo: Jon Sullivan

    You can trigger similar-sized avalanches in  locations that have more recent snow closer to the Cascade Crest. Backcountry travelers triggered small, wet, loose avalanches in the nearby Stevens Pass zone on Sunday. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    With just enough new snow and steady ridgeline winds, you may find  lingering slabs of drifted snow in the alpine. Precipitation and winds are forecast to pick up during the later hours of the afternoon, especially for the western edges of the zones. In these locations look for fresh and more sensitive wind slabs as you climb in elevation. 

    Active wind drifting and blowing snow will show you which slopes are loading up and building slabs. Textured, rippled surfaces and sharp drifts usually indicate recent wind loading. Use extra caution in exposed alpine terrain where even a small avalanche can have big consequences. Use small test slopes and snowpack assessments to help you gauge slab reactivity before riding in steeper terrain.

    (4/7/2024) Photo: Logan Heine

    On Sunday, backcountry skiers reported shallow reactive wind slabs along ridgelines in the Chiwaukums. 

Avalanche Discussion

The East Central is a big zone that holds a lot of variability from east to west. In the western parts of the zone, like Salmon La Sac and Stuart Range, you’ll typically find 3-6 inches of recent snow resting over the stout early April crust. Further east observers have been reporting trace amounts of snow over this same crust.

While observations have been sparse in the East Central, we’ve received a couple of good observations from our neighbors at Stevens Pass that could be relevant if you travel closer to these areas. On Saturday, one observer reported a small wet loose avalanche that caught and carried a skier on Skyline Ridge ( obs here). This small avalanche entrained the new snow and ran on the crust. Further east in the Chiwaukums, a group reported shallow, reactive slabs and triggered a small avalanche that ran several hundred feet on the crust ( obs here).  

Lower elevations are melting out quickly this year. Be prepared for more challenging approaches, firm snow, and low coverage extending into middle elevations. Open creeks, exposed rocks, and slide-for-life conditions can easily exacerbate the consequence of a small avalanche. 

Let us know what you see as you travel in the mountains by submitting a public observation here. 

 

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