Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Wet avalanche conditions bring significant uncertainty. The likelihood of avalanches decreases, but unpredictable, dangerous wet avalanches remain possible. Smaller loose avalanches on steep slopes are most likely, but avoid lingering in gullies at lower elevations or below large open slopes where a very large avalanche could run from upper elevations. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Wet slabs are becoming less likely, but with deep, saturated snow, you could still easily trigger wet loose avalanches on steep slopes.  Even though the wet slab avalanche cycle may be decreasing in frequency, the destructive and unpredictable nature of these avalanches still requires conservative decision-making. Wet slabs may run naturally, so make sure you are aware of all overhead terrain. Travel quickly through runouts and gullies where large avalanches can funnel and run long distances into lower elevations. Cornice failure and glide avalanches involving the entire season's snowpack are still a concern as well. Give overhung cornices and deep, open glide cracks a wide berth. 

    Sustained warm temperatures and plenty of liquid water in the snowpack make avalanche forecasting for these problems uncertain and challenging. Despite a subtle cooling trend and decreasing likelihood of avalanches, conditions in the backcountry are in a low likelihood but high consequence state. Don't try to thread the needle with this soggy snowpack, and choose conservative terrain with limited exposure to overhead hazard. 

    (3/26/2025)

    Crystal Pro Patrol explosively triggered a very large wet slab avalanche on Wednesday afternoon. It was 300-400ft wide and broke 4 to 6ft deep.

    N, 6800ft. WS-AE-D3-O

    Photo: Josh Lipkowitz

Avalanche Discussion

Rain overnight on Wednesday will add more uncertainty to this forecast. We expect the convective nature of these storms to produce high precipitation rates for a short duration of time, but it will still add additional water to our already very wet snowpack. A gradual cooling trend starting on Thursday will help to dial back wet avalanche concerns as the week goes on. You should also expect to battle challenging travel in deep, wet snow.

On Wednesday, at nearby Crystal Mountain, the Ski Patrol triggered a very large (D3) wet slab during control work. The crown of this avalanche was approximately 5ft deep, breaking into old snow layers. It's the possibility of these wet slab avalanches that keeps us on our toes as forecasters. These wet slabs are notoriously difficult to forecast and manage and will sometimes release when you least expect them to. Consider the significant consequences of simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Really, the best way to deal with the uncertainty of wet snow is to step back until we see a solid refreeze. 

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