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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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Heavy snow and strong wind will create very dangerous conditions. Avoid slopes over 35 degrees, especially at middle to upper elevations. Avalanches will run naturally, they'll be very easy to trigger, and many could be big enough to bury or kill you. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Only travel in the backcountry if you're confident in avoiding avalanche terrain. Expect avalanches on most slopes over 35 degrees. Be extra careful to avoid being under slopes where natural avalanches could come down from above. Anticipate more dangerous conditions as you gain elevation.  Shady, steep, open slopes sheltered from the wind, such as gladed forests, may easily avalanche. Natural avalanches and cracks shooting through the snow are warning signs of very dangerous conditions.

    Avalanches will likely involve all the recent snow accumulated since Thursday. Some could even gouge deeper into older snow. Near the Cascade Crest, avalanches could be 2-3 feet deep and easier to trigger where you find stiffer snow on leeward slopes and wind-exposed terrain. Further east in the zone, like the Wenatchee Mountains, avalanches may be limited to primarily windloaded terrain. Use quick tests and small slopes to check how easily the new snow slides before traveling near steeper terrain.

    (12/1/2023)

    A small storm slab avalanche in 6-8" of new snow. The new/old interface was very reactive. Rock Mtn

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Conditions will vary significantly throughout the zone. The most dangerous conditions are near the Cascade Crest.

We are starting the season with a large load of snow on a very weak and thin snowpack on the east slopes of the Cascades, and most lower elevations were bare before the current storm. Snow became continuous at around 5000ft in the eastern portion of the zone, such as Icicle Creek. Meanwhile, areas further west, such as Salmon La Sac, held continuous snow down to around 4000ft. At higher elevations, these areas further west in the zone have about twice as much snow. Over the last week, forecasters found 35cm at 5200ft in Icicle Creek and 50cm of snow at similar elevations in Salmon La Sac. In most locations, the west and south aspects were nearly bare ground up to around 6000ft. Shady slopes hold weak old snow covered with large surface hoar crystals that may be prone to avalanches under this new snow load. Sunny slopes have patchy snow cover or icy crusts that make a good sliding surface for avalanches. 

It's still early season, and our confidence in the avalanche forecast is low. Approach mountain travel with caution and be ready to make your own assessments. Snow cover is still shallow in many places. Hitting buried rocks, stumps, and creeks may be your most significant hazard of the day.

Anyone can add to the forecast. Let us know what you see in the mountains by submitting an observation.

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