Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Don't let the good snow and sun blind you from evaluating snow and terrain carefully.  It remains possible for you to trigger large avalanches in wind drifted snow on Sunday.  Keep an eye out and avoid steep steep sunny slopes during the heat of the day if you start seeing rollerballs or notice wet loose avalanches. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Clear skies and warmer temperatures will combine to create wet snow on sunny aspects, which may lead to wet loose avalanches shedding off of steep slopes.  You will most likely see these wet loose avalanches on steep southerly (SW-S-SE)  slopes, specifically near cliffs, rock bands, or under cornices.  Look for rollerballs or pinwheels as these are often indicators of the snow surface becoming weak. Consider steering around these steep, sunny aspects during the heat of the day. 

    (11/24/2022)

    Rollerballs like this are often indicators that the snow surface is becoming weak and wet loose avalanches may soon follow.  

    Photo: Robert Hahn

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent new snow and moderate west winds have created shallow wind drifted slabs at upper elevations across the east-south.  You will find these wind slabs living on the east side of ridges and scattered through the alpine.  These slabs will likely become more stubborn as winds calm down and limit additional wind transport.  Use visual clues to identify where wind loaded slopes live.  Look for cornices, wind ripped snow, or pillow-like drifts of snow.  If you observe shooting cracks, cornices easily failing, or see recent avalanche activity- avoid similar slopes and travel in lower angled, sheltered terrain. 

    The crown profile of an old avalanche in wind drifted snow that likely released yesterday.

    E aspect, 6800 ft

Avalanche Discussion

NWAC Forecaster Katie Warren traveled into the Ahtanum Meadows area on Saturday.  She observed approximately 7 inches of new snow at lower elevations and upwards of 15 inches at higher elevations.  This new snow sits on a variety of surfaces from dirt on lower elevation southerly slopes  to a stout rain crust that formed on Christmas in most other areas. She also observed an old crown of a small wind slab avalanche ( likely from yesterday) that failed on old snow about 1 ft deep.  Overall, Katie found variable conditions from aspect to aspect, with southerly aspects holding very little snow and higher elevation, shaded aspects holding a deeper, more layered snowpack.

If you get out to enjoy the weather on Sunday, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation!

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