Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger should be limited to higher elevations. As you gain elevation, look for signs of recent wind drifting and shooting cracks as a sign of instability. If skies clear, watch for small loose avalanches on sunny slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    With daytime warming, expect snow surfaces to warm and become moist, especially on southerly aspects. If you observe fresh loose wet slides, it's time to move to lower-angle slopes and more shaded terrain. The most concern for these avalanches may lie on mid-elevation slopes. At low elevations, there may not be enough recent snow on lower elevation slopes to be a problem and the snow at upper elevations may stay cool. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Look for signs of recent wind transport as you gain elevation, especialy as you near ridgelines and cornices. Use small test slopes and other practical tests to asess how the new snow is bonding to old crust layers,  paying attention to things like shooting cracks.  Look and feel for stiffer, cohesive snow, and identify terrain features to steer around.

    Example shallow wind slab from a steep gully feature.

Avalanche Discussion

The zone picked up 4-8" since the 31st. Expect to find more recent snow west of the Cascade crest (such as near Rainy Pass) and less snow east of Mazama.

Last Thursday, Willie snowmobiled up to Harts Pass finding some large debris piles to cross over on the way. The road was melting out quickly near Deadhorse Pt. He found a mix of sun crusts on the surface, though higher elevations looked to hold a cold, layered snowpack. We have minimal recent information from Washington Pass with the spring plowing operations just beginning.

Assess conditions as you travel using quick hand pits and test slopes to observe how new snow reacts. Before this recent snowfall, reports are that southern aspects have had supportable crusts, with only due north slopes holding onto cold, dry powder. However, easterly winds last week have also damaged snow surfaces, so expect to find plentiful wind-affect and scoured slopes under the new snow.

Regions covered