Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Blowing snow, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches are signs that new and old wind loaded slopes are abundant. Stick to low angle, wind sheltered terrain if you find signs of instability.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Another storm system rolls through starting on Thursday night accompanied by moderate wind. This will build fresh wind slabs on lee slopes at middle and upper elevations. After Thursday's powerful storm, you could still find older slabs at all elevations. They will be loitering in atypical locations i.e. lower down on slopes and in exposed terrain at lower elevations. Fresh slab formation can overload older wind slabs and produce a bigger and even more consequential avalanche. Warm temperatures and rain likely healed most wind slab instability found below 4000 feet.

    Be on the lookout for blowing snow which will tell you where slopes are being freshly loaded. Rippled, uneven snow surfaces indicate wind transport, but this may not be obvious if obscured by new snow. If you encounter hard snow surfaces, presume that deeper slabs can be found just below ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. Cracks shooting from your skis or sled indicate that you have found an unstable slab. 

    (12/26/2024)

    Mission Ridge Pro Patrol triggered  wind slabs with ski cuts on12/26

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

The Christmas/Boxing Day storm delivered! Observers found 30 inches (75cm) of new snow near Gallagher Head Lake. What is even more notable, however, is the wind that co-occurred in exposed and higher elevation terrain. An NWAC Forecaster experienced gale force winds and trees falling over in the Salmon La Sac. Mission Ridge, although often an outlier for its windy climate, clocked 100+ mph winds in the afternoon on Thursday. All in all, it was not a day to take your chances in avalanche terrain.

Most of Friday's snowfall will be in the southern end of the East Central zone. If you find cracking and collapsing in more sheltered areas, you have found storm slab instability. Step back from steep slopes if you encounter these signs.

With continued bouts of rain at lower elevations, contending with low tide conditions remains an issue. Watch out for exposed hazards such as stumps, downed logs, and open creeks.

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