East Slopes Central

You're more likely to run into low snow cover, slick icy surfaces, and other travel hazards than avalanches on Sunday. Areas close to the Cascade crest may pick up a couple of inches of snow and form micro slabs in wind-drifted terrain. But these are likely only an issue for incredibly steep terrain. 

A storm impacting the Cascades won't pack enough of a punch to bring much precipitation over to the east slopes. A convergence zone may target Snoqualmie Pass, bringing a bit more accumulation to the Salmon La Sac area. In addition, the convective nature of these spring storms might bring short, but intense and windy, bursts of snowfall. Neither of these situations is likely to bring significant snow accumulation, and likely won't significantly impact avalanche hazard. At most, you'll see very small wind slabs form at upper elevations on steep slopes. These won't be large enough to pose much of a hazard unless you're seeking out more vertical-style terrain for climbing. Last week, an NWAC Forecaster traveling in the French Cabin area found fresh wind-affected snow along ridgelines. In nearby zones, observers reported natural and triggered wind slabs in upper elevation terrain. Including a skier-triggered wind slab at Snoqualmie Pass on Friday near Chair Peak. Due to limited access and observations, we have minimal field data from upper elevations in East Central. We expect wind slabs to be isolated and difficult to trigger by now, but uncertainty remains. So make frequent observations and err on the side of caution before committing to steep, wind-loaded alpine terrain. 

Thanks to recent rain, warm temperatures, and sunshine, non-avalanche hazards abound. The zone is riddled with open creeks, random holes, exposed logs, and rocks. Lower elevations and south-west facing slopes are especially grim. Take your time as you travel around and plan for difficult mountain access.