Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Even though the potential for avalanches may decrease slightly on Monday, conditions remain complex. Recent natural and triggered slides emphasize just how dangerous things can be. Keep it dialed back and stick to lower angled terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    This isn’t a snowpack set up to mess around with. Over the past week, multiple large and widely propagating avalanches have been reported. In two separate involvements near Harts Pass riders were buried and one killed. Put plenty of space between you and steep open slopes on the north side of the compass dial. 

    The January Drough Layer is about 3 feet below the surface. It probably won’t talk to you and conditions may “feel” stable. They're not! Avalanche could break across an entire slope, run long distances, and even reach the bottom of runouts. The only way to deal with this issue is to be diligent and avoid this terrain.

    (2/28/2025)

    A large avalanche near Hart's Pass that caught 2 snowmobilers and resulted in one fatality on February 28th. 

    HS-AM-D2.5-R4-O. Cone Mtn, NE, 6,800ft

    Photo: NCH

  • Loose Wet

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

    If the skies are clear Sunday night, the surface should cool and freeze. It will take a bit for sunshine and warm temperatures to break down the crust and for wet avalanches to become an issue. 

    Over the past several days, natural wet loose and wet slab avalanches occurred. Some were very large and even broke trees. Wet cycles are hard to predict. These slides could be “played” out, or more could rain down on Monday. 

    When you find wet snow deeper than your ankle you may trigger a wet slide. However, the potential for natural slides is much scarier. Remember, the snow on the rocks above you is warming faster than where you’re standing. If you see any snow falling off rocks or cornice lines, get out from under overhead hazards.

    (2/27/2025) Natural wet avalanches off of Cutthroat Peak from the recent warming.

     Photo: Ryan Minton

Avalanche Discussion

Preliminary Report: On Friday, February 28, three snowmobilers were riding near Harts Pass in the East North zone when they triggered a large slab avalanche. Two riders were caught and carried. One rider was fully buried and killed. The other was partially buried and injured. NWAC is working with local avalanche professionals to conduct an investigation. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community. (NE, 6,800ft HS-AM-D2.5-R4-O)

The overall situation in the East North zone is challenging. Two very different avalanche problems present some hazard on every aspect. Toss in the complexity of recent warm weather, variable overnight freezes, wet snow issues, and persistent weak layers…. You get the idea. Even though the danger is dropping, it shouldn’t be seen as a green light to push into bigger terrain or return to our normal travel patterns. It only reflects the overall changes in the potential for these avalanches. The consequences of both problems remain very high. 

While the January Drough Layer has been in our snowpack for the past month. It wasn’t until this week’s snow followed by warm temperatures combined to “wake it up.” Nearly daily avalanches and collapses have occurred. The culprit? Weak facets buried 2–3 ft (60-100cm) below the surface. This problem isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

While persistent slabs have surely stolen the spot-light, warm weather the past several days released impressive wet avalanches around the zone, some up to size D3 (very large). Another barrage of wet slides occurred Sunday near Harts Pass including a wet slab that broke trees and gouged to the ground (SW, 4500ft). Will there be more wet avalanches in this prolonged cycle? Hard to say, but until the snowpack locks up, they will be on our minds. 

In the foothills of the Methow Valley, heavy dense snow over weak faceted grains led to collapses and a small avalanches Friday and Saturday. All the warm weather will eventually help strengthen the snowpack, but until temperatures drop and the snowpack freezes solid, keep these conditions could persist.

You can help us gather more data by submitting an observation HERE or via the Avy App. 

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