East Slopes Central

Friday will likely be another day with cold air pooled in low-lying valleys and warm temps with clear skies at upper elevations. Challenging travel on icy crusts, stiff wind crusts, and sun-softened snow may be a greater hazard than avalanches. While avalanches are unlikely, wet snow may still shed from rocks and cliffs in steep southern terrain. 

Friday will be another repeat of the weather pattern. Temperature inversions will likely keep low-lying valleys east of the Cascade Crest cold and shrouded in clouds. The inversion may weaken during the day but might not entirely mix with the warmer air at higher elevations. If you make your way into upper elevations, you can find spring-like conditions, sunny skies, and temperatures in the mid to high 30's. Many days of a daily melt-freeze cycle have created a strong melt-freeze crust on most surfaces. Above the inversion, the surface will soften during the day, and enjoyable corn skiing and riding can be found on southern aspects. In sheltered terrain on northern aspects, snow from a minor storm last week is preserved and rests on a thick melt-freeze crust. This snow is beginning to weaken and now has a layer of surface hoar in some locations. This crust/facet/surface hoar combination could become a weak layer with the potential for some long-awaited snowfall over the weekend. 

Avalanches are unlikely, but snow could still move downhill. In very steep, rocky terrain, small wet loose avalanches may occur with warming and intense sun. Don't linger underneath cliffs and rocks that still are holding snow. Take note of surface conditions as you travel and as the daytime progresses. Observe the thickness or supportability of the surface crust during the day. If you're sinking past your ankle or the sled bogs down in deep wet snow, you may be able to trigger a wet loose avalanche. In high, alpine terrain, watch for cornices, which could fracture off and become a hazard tumbling down the slopes.

A range of surface conditions exist throughout the zone. In forested areas at lower elevations, you should anticipate challenging, rough, icy travel. In the Icicle Creek drainage, low elevations have a thick ice crust. This slippery crust can make falls result in an uncontrollable slide-for-life. Observations from the Entiat and Salmon La Sac areas indicate preserved soft snow 4-6inches deep in sheltered terrain. In the highest elevations on northern aspects, this soft snow has been drifted around by the wind creating boilerplate wind stiffened snow with unpredictable pockets of deeper soft snow. Be prepared for challenging travel associated with these surface conditions, along with creeks reopening and large piles of avalanche debris to navigate through. If you get out into the mountains, help us track these variable surfaces by sending in an observation on what aspects and elevations you find weak snow, crusts, or surface hoar.