Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

New snow and significant wind will make for a dangerous day at upper elevations. Avalanches could propagate widely in wind-drifted areas that hold weak snow from late December. So play it safe by avoiding travel on wind-loaded features at middle and upper elevations until this storm has run its course. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong winds will productively drift new snow into thick, cohesive slabs on leeward slopes. These wind slabs will grow in depth and distribution as the days progress. Some of these wind-drifted slabs could break in surprising ways and propagate widely if they rest on weak snow sitting on a crust.

    Blowing snow should be evident Saturday, so pay attention to where it drifts to help you identify what slopes are loading up. You’ll typically find these wind drifted slabs lurking on the leeward side of ridges, below conices, and under rock and cliff bands. Look for snow surfaces that appear ‘fat’ or textured to help you spot where the wind has been at work. Move to less exposed slopes if you notice shooting cracks or hear audible whumphs.

    (3/23/2023)

    Blowing snow and sharp cornices will help you identify problematic slopes. Avoid slopes on the right side of thise photo. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

The winter storm train officially commences this weekend across the Pacific Northwest. You may be hungry to find the goods, but be sure to temper your stoke as the next few days are shaping up to be dangerous days for mountain travel. New snow will continue to build over a weak structure in many areas. Observers region-wide have been reporting weak faceted snow, propagating test results, and audible collapses. These are all clear signs that weak layers lurk  - and will surely be tested as new snow piles up in the coming days. Your most significant layer of concern will likely be a crust that harbors weak snow above and below ( and in some cases buried surface hoar), that sits about 6-12 inches below the snow surface. 

NWAC forecasters were out in Ahtanum Meadows on Tuesday. The roads were snow-covered and groomed from the snowpark, but continuous coverage off-trail did not begin until around Colver Flats (6200ft). Up near Darland Mountain, snow depths were between 2-3ft. You can check out the full observation here. 

Early season conditions still exist across much of the zone. Look for hidden hazards such as downed trees, stumps, creeks, and rocks. These types of hazards can easily exacerbate the consequence of even a small avalanche

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

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