Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Avoid avalanche terrain at middle and upper elevations, where strong winds and sun will drive large natural and triggered avalanches. Stay far away from and out from under avalanche paths and slopes over 30 degrees. You can easily trigger avalanches 2-3 feet deep, especially where you find recent snow on a crust.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong to extreme westerly winds will continue to build slabs on leeward slopes. Avoid traveling in or under avalanche paths, especially any that start near ridges. You could remotely trigger very large avalanches from far away, and natural slides could come down from above. Seek out wind-sheltered and low-angle terrain, under 30 degrees.You could trigger an avalanche on many steep slopes, but wind-loaded terrain will be the most dangerous. Even at low elevations, you may be able to trigger slides remotely. The sun could make it easier to trigger avalanches in the afternoon on east-, south-, and west-facing aspects. Avalanches in the new snow could be 2-3 feet deep and could run on a crust formed on the 12th. 

    Expect more widespread and larger avalanches farther west in the zone as areas near the Cascade Crest were favored with higher snow totals.

    (3/6/2026)

    A test slope showed unstable cracking in wind-loaded snow.

    Photo: Payton Schiff

  • Loose Wet

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

    Sun will warm exposed slopes and could initiate avalanches. These could be point releases, but they could also break as slabs. You could trigger avalanches more easily as the day warms. Plan to be off from sun exposure earlier than usual. Even slightly sticky snow could signal that you could trigger slides. If you see rollerballs or avalnaches on sunny slopes, make sure to stay away from steep, overhead terrain.

    (1/31/2026)

    An example of an intentionally triggered wet loose avalanche on a northeast aspect at 6300 ft.

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

While snowfall will wind down, strong westerly winds will keep loading leeward slopes. Near the Cascade Crest, you can find recent snow resting on a crust, 2-3 feet deep. In the Wenatchee Mountains, you may not find the crust, but fresh and older wind slabs will be plentiful.We've been tracking the 2/13 buried surface hoar and facets around the 2/7 crust. These layers are likely buried 3-4ft deep in areas closer to the crest and much shallower farther east. Avalanche activity on these layers was isolated to wind-loaded terrain after the last February and early March storms, and we haven't had any activity since March 2nd.  While these layers haven't shown signs of reactivity in a while, this storm could change that. Given the ongoing loading, avalanches on these weak layers could now be more likely. But we won't know much about this problem until after the storm passes. So treat these weak snow layers as highly suspect until we can reduce the uncertainty. 

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