Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A weak storm will bring light rain below treeline and a dusting of snow to upper elevations. There's a chance of small wind slab avalanches above treeline, though any moving snow should be inconsequential. Watch for signs of instability like active blowing snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Sunday's storm will bring more wind than snow, though there could be enough wind slab formation that you may be able to trigger small avalanches. Watch for shallow drifts of snow on leeward sides of ridges and terrain features. Plumes of blowing snow will point to slopes that are being loaded. Cracks shooting through the snow are also a sign of the danger. Steer around fresh drifts and pillow of snow on slopes over 35 degrees.

Avalanche Discussion

Access in the East North zone is difficult and observations are sparse. We have significant uncertainty in the forecast. Be prepared to make your own assessment.  If you're out in the mountains, submit an observation and let us know what you see.  

At upper elevations, there's a chance for lingering instability in wind-drifted slabs of snow. Information is very limited and we don't have a great handle on whether or not you could still trigger wind slab avalanches. Watch for cracks shooting through the snow as a sign of the danger.

WSDOT highway and avalanche crews have been working to clear Hwy 20 Washington Pass. On Thursday, they reported a few large to very large natural wet avalanches on southerly aspects above Hwy 20 on Delancey ridge and in the Cutthroat avalanche paths between Cutthroat Lake rd and the Hairpin  On Wednesday, they reported about 2" of snow from the past 24 hours resting on a firm, frozen crust. A decent cycle of natural wet loose and wet slab avalanches, up to D1.5, occurred with the last storm between 4/9-10.  Some steep, unsupported rock faces released small glide avalanches. A deeper crown was reported in Willow Creek, NE around 7900ft near the top of Kangaroo Ridge. This natural slab avalanche may have been dry and likely resulted from wind loading during the storm.

On Tuesday, 4/4, Willie Webster took an aerial tour of the zone and produced remarkable images of the current snow cover and recent avalanche activity. Notable were a couple of older avalanches, including a very large natural slab avalanche on a NNE aspect of Silverstar Mtn and a natural glide avalanche on Hinkhouse Peak.

This is the last avalanche forecast for the 22/23 season. NWAC will continue issuing mountain weather forecasts each afternoon at 2:30 pm through April. We’d like to thank each of you for reading and using these forecasts to make informed safe decisions and for contributing to your community by submitting observations. Please continue to help support your backcountry friends by letting others know what you find in the mountains. Have a wonderful spring and summer!

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