Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist. As snow surfaces thaw throughout the day, you may be able to trigger a small avalanche in wet snow on steep sun-exposed slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    You’re most likely to find wet, slushy snow in the afternoon on sunny slopes around rocks and cliffs where the snowpack is shallower. A quick way to check for loose wet avalanches is by using your boot. When you sink in to wet snow past your ankle, start anticipating loose wet avalanches on nearby slopes. Snow surfaces are rough and variable, and already affected by wind, sun, and warm temperatures in most areas. This should help limit wet avalanches, and any slides should remain small and localized to just a few features. But, keep in mind that even a small avalanche can hurt you if it carries you over a cliff or buries you deeply in a gully.

    (2/7/2022)

    Very small wet loose slide.

    Photo: Andrew Pierce

Avalanche Discussion

From January 30 to February 2, storms deposited 8-12 inches of snow over variable surfaces in the East South Zone. Strong ridgeline winds redistributed this last snowfall into dense slabs, scoured westerly aspects, and created stiff, wind-pressed surfaces. Since then, warm, sunny days and cool nights allowed the snowpack to resume another diurnal melt-freeze cycle reminiscent of the springtime. Avalanche concerns are limited anywhere you find firm and frozen snow surfaces. As the snowpack thaws each day, small wet loose activity and cornice fall may continue on E-S-W aspects. 

Eastern portions of the zone received little snow during the last storm, and thick icy crusts exist on the surface maintaining challenging travel conditions. There was a significant loss in overall snow height in January, and many ridgelines, southern aspects, and low elevation slopes melted out to bare ground. Several creeks reopened as well, and many snow bridges fractured or collapsed. Shallowly buried obstacles are additional hazards to manage. Expect little change in conditions with dry, sunny weather in the forecast through the weekend.  

Regions covered