Eastside Region

Triggering an avalanche is unlikely, but not impossible. Be on the lookout for wind-stiffened and cracking snow surfaces on slopes adjacent to ridgelines, in couloirs, and in mid-slope gullies. Getting knocked off your feet or hitting a shallowly buried obstacle in steep or exposed terrain can still have severe consequences. 

Our extreme N/NW wind event continued over the last 48 hours—beginning 2025's first chapter of A Tale of Two Winds, an Eastside favorite. This resulted in the snow previously deposited by our typical SW winds being stripped and redistributed. Due to this, small and stubborn wind slabs are an unlikely possibility on any aspect at mid and upper elevations. Relatively small amounts of loose surface snow were available for transport during this event due to previous winds stiffening, scouring, and pressing surfaces.  

Our snowpack remains in a generally stable state. Before committing to steep and exposed terrain, be sure to evaluate the snowpack on a slope-by-slope basis. Surface instabilities, like small pockets of wind-deposited snow, are unlikely to be able to bury a person. However, getting knocked off your feet in the exposed terrain many of us like to play in can still have dire consequences. Shallowly buried rocks and variable, wind-sculpted, and crusty surfaces also create a fall hazard to keep in mind at the top of a run. Best travel practices will help keep you safe and skiing longer into the season: keeping eyes on your partners, skiing one at a time from safe zone to safe zone in big terrain, and creating margins for uncertainty.

While the 10-day forecast is looking dry, we can keep hoping for what that eleventh day may bring. Stay safe until we get there.