East Slopes Central

Temperature inversions return on Saturday, but will create little change in avalanche hazard. Carry sharp self-arresting equipment for traveling over hard, icy surfaces. Additionally, low snow coverage has made recreation challenging. Come prepared for it all with good travel techniques.

The very southern and eastern ends of East Central were treated to sunshine at lower elevations for the first time in weeks on Friday. The rest of the zone remained under a persistent low cloud layer. Saturday will be a return to...normal? High freezing levels and warm air will once again return to middle and upper elevations, while cold air will carry on below. Jury's out if fog will return to areas that cleared on Friday.

None of this will have much of an impact on avalanche hazard. Maybe a glob of snow could fall from a cliff or sagging cornice overhead. Your greatest concern remains long, sliding falls on hard, slick surfaces. Rain and melt-freeze crust formation is widespread. Bumpy runnels and ice are common, too. Stack the odds in your favor by carrying something sharp and know how to use it: ski/boot crampons, whippets, ice axes, etc.

Observations have trickled in that the snowpack on shaded terrain is softening as it transforms into large, weaker grains known as facets. Reports from Dirty Face and Mission Ridge confirm that both near-surface and near-crust faceting are occurring in the upper portion of the snowpack. While this doesn't really mean anything right now - other than you can find improved skiing and riding conditions on these slopes - these layers could become problematic once buried. 

Our already meager snowpack has suffered for the last couple of weeks, and some areas, like the Wenatchees, lack consistent snow coverage for on-snow recreation. Plan ahead for challenging travel and keep a watchful eye out for exposed obstacles and open creeks.