East Slopes North

Sunday will be another sunny day with warmer temperatures. Watch for roller balls and small wet avalanches on steep, sunny slopes. Be careful not to hit rocks and stumps while traveling in areas of shallow snow cover.

Expect another day of quiet weather. For Sunday, there's a slight chance of wet loose avalanches at low elevations on the western edge of the zone. Expect sun and warming temperatures in much of the Cascades, but the bulk of this zone will stay cool. At upper elevations, we've received reports of blowing snow throughout the week, but no recent indicators that it's possible to trigger wind slab avalanches.

Avalanche concerns have been relatively minimal and short-lived in the past week. Washington Pass received a dusting of an inch or two of new snow on Saturday with a burst of southwest wind. The pass picked up about 6" of snow on Wednesday morning. Later in the week winds blew from the southwest since then and have stripped snow off of some windward slopes. Over the past week, observers have identified a snowpack with a favorable hardness profile and good stability. The snowpack in the area is generally 3.5ft to 5ft deep.

While it's been a great start to the season, many slopes are still shallowly covered with snow. There are many exposed logs and rocks. Creeks and lakes are still open in places. Use caution and travel conservatively on slopes with shallow coverage.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.