Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

 Light new snow and increasing wind speeds will create a fresh batch of shallow wind-drifted slabs at upper elevations. Some of these slabs could fail easily if they form over weak snow surfaces sitting on a crust. Use visual clues like fresh drifts or blowing snow to help you identify where unstable snow could lurk. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    1-2 inches of new snow and moderate NW winds will create small, shallow wind slabs at upper elevations. These slabs could fail easily if they form on top of weak snow on the early February crust. The most likely places you'll encounter these wind-drifted slabs will be on the leeward sides of ridges, below cornices, and forming under rock and cliff bands. As you travel, look for blowing snow and textured surfaces to help you identify problematic slopes. 

    These slabs won't be large but could knock you off guard in steeper terrain features like chutes or couloirs at upper elevations. The best strategy will be to steer around terrain that appears freshly wind-drifted, especially if you notice shooting cracks of whumping collapses. 

    (1/7/2024)

    Blowing snow can help you identify wind-loaded aspects. 

    Photo: Willie Webster

Avalanche Discussion

Unfortunately, we're not expecting much precipitation out of this system. However, you may encounter a couple of inches of new snow on the western edges of the zone closer to White Pass or west of Bumping Lake. 

Across much of the zone, you'll likely find 3-5" of new snow over the recent crust at mid and upper elevations, with more the higher you go. Observers in neighboring zones have been finding surface hoar over the early February crust, including forecasters on Tuesday at Blewett Pass. It was difficult to identify, but the feel of slipperyness over the crust beneath a few inches of new snow was a hint that it was there (see photo below). 

The lower elevation snowpack has endured a beating after last weeks warm. Below 5000 ft, be on the lookout for shallowly buried objects, open creeks, and rough surfaces. 

If you get out, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation!

 

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