Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Keep an eye out for firm smooth wind-drifted pockets along exposed ridges and near some of the higher peaks. Sharp drifts and textured surfaces should point toward these loaded slopes. Don’t let one of these small slabs carry you over a cliff or into rocks.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    The most likely place to trigger an avalanche on Monday will be in wind-exposed terrain along the higher alpine ridges, near the base of cliffs, and in the tops of chutes. These slabs should be small and thin, but they could be just enough to knock you over or take you for a nasty ride. 

    There should be a few easy to spot clues that help you determine local wind patterns and anticipate potentially loaded slopes. Rime, recent snow plastered to trees, and sharp wind lips all indicate wind slabs may be nearby.

    (12/30/2023)

    Example: Snow plastered on a tree trunk and small drifts help show the local wind direction. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

This storm isn’t doing much in the East South zone. Even for our neighbors White Pass and Crystal Mt along the Cascade Crest, we’re only expecting a few inches of new snow. Similarly, you may find a couple of inches near Bumping Lakes, the Nelson Range, and BearGrass Mt. All in all the “storm” should be wrapping up by mid-morning on Monday. 

Other than what snow the wind can whip into small slabs, we don’t have much in the way of avalanche concerns. The stout Early February Crust (EFC) formed essentially “new ground” and put to bed all the lingering persistent weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. How deep is the EFC? That depends on where you are in the zone. Closer to the crest, it may be 6-8 inches below the surface. Further east, it may be the surface. 

There's a slight chance for some sun breaks Monday afternoon. If these occur, you may see a few rollerballs or very small wet loose slides on steep southerly aspects. Since there isn't much new snow, these slides shouldn't amount to much hazard, but don't linger under rocky terrain if the sun pops out. 

The last atmospheric river event really took a toll on the snowpack around the East South zone. Expect very thin (or even non-existent) snowpacks at lower elevations and on steep southerly slopes. Unfortunately, we’re still talking about travel hazards. Slick crusts, exposed obstacles, open creeks, and bare ground continue to make travel more adventurous.

Regions covered