Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You could trigger avalanches in wind-drifted snow on steep terrain below ridges, the base of cliffs, and confined chutes and gullies. So steer around these features and feel for stiff, hollow-sounding snow before committing to steep slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The recent East winds easily drifted the recent low-density snow around. Observations from Mission Ridge and the Icicle River Drainage report significant wind affected snow, deep wind drifts, and scoured slopes. While wind slabs are becoming a bit more stubborn, you can still find lingering pockets where you could trigger an avalanche. Steep slopes below ridges and confined alpine terrain features such as chutes and gullies are likely places to trigger these wind slabs. Also, watch out for mid-slope features such as steep convex rolls as potential trigger points. 

    Visual clues can help you identify wind loaded features. Textured surfaces, drifts around rocks and trees, and deep pillowlike drifts are all signs wind slabs are nearby. Ease into the terrain using smaller, less consequential slopes to see how the snow reacts. If you find cracks or feel firm hollow snow underneath you, step back and steer around these suspected wind-loaded areas.

    (1/9/2023)

    Small test slopes like this can indicate unstable conditions and the presence of reactive wind slabs. 

    Photo: Irene Henninger

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche Fatality: Colchuck Pk, East Central Zone: Read the preliminary report here.

The sun is in the forecast again for Saturday, and temperatures will moderate more than Friday. These overlapping weather inputs make wet loose avalanches possible on steep sunny slopes, particularly at lower elevations where they could run on a slick crust. Don't let a smaller avalanche knock you over and take you for a ride above a terrain trap. An incoming storm on Saturday will bury the existing snow surfaces. With the recent cold temperatures, weak surfaces may have formed and be our next layer of concern. So take note of what surfaces you find out there on Saturday.Significant snow totals piled up on the East Slopes, particularly in the Wenatchee Mountains and Icicle River Drainage, where 8-10" of snow accumulated on Wednesday. NWAC observer Brooke Maushund found less snow near Lake Wenatchee, with only about 5-6" of snow over the Valentine Crust. All the recent snow sits over this crust, often presenting as weak snow between a thin sandwich of crusts. Observations around the zone indicate this crust exists up to 6500-7000ft. While we don't anticipate this weak snow is contributing to the current avalanche hazard, it is an interface we will monitor during additional loading events. 

If you get out into the mountains, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation. 

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