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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Highlights

This won't be a big storm, but triggering a 2-4 foot thick avalanche remains a concerning possibility on upper elevation, northerly aspects. In these areas give steep, rocky, wind-swept terrain some space on Saturday. Keep small wet avalanches in mind, especially in more consequential terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Triggering a large 2-4 foot thick persistent slab remains a concerning possibility on the north side of the compass at upper elevations. While wind speeds will be light, we suspect this problem to be most dangerous in areas with fresh wind drifted snow, especially in areas with a more shallow snowpack. 

    So far, we continue to receive confirmation from the Wenatchee Mountains that cold snow and unfortunately, a weak snowpack continues to plague northern aspects (NW-N- NE aspects). We have limited information from other parts of the zone, but we suspect the EFC remains preserved elsewhere on shady upper elevation slopes. 

    These avalanches can act surprisingly, often propagating widely or being triggered from a distance. You may or may not receive feedback before triggering this type of avalanche. The best way to reduce your risk of triggering one of these is by avoiding steep, rocky, wind swept terrain on the north side of the compass. 

    (3/6/2024)

    An example of a persistent slab. 

    Photo: Anthony Lubetski

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    As the day progresses, you may notice some rollerballing and even some small wet loose avalanches within the new snow. These slides will be small, but will be most pronounced during sunbreaks and during daytime warming. Give larger slopes some space if you start noticing rollerballs and pinwheels. You don't need a large avalanche to ruin your day in consequential terrain. 

    (1/28/2024)

    Small wet loose avalanches shedding off cliffs.

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

This isn't shaping up to be a big storm, but the east side of the Cascades should get enough precipitation to spike the avalanche danger- especially on aspects that remained dry (without a crust) and hold weak layers 2-4 ft below the surface. 

We have a bit of uncertainty across the zone regarding the reactivity of the Early February Crust on shady upper elevation slopes . On 3/22, the Mission Ridge Pro Patrol reported weak snow and propagating test results on the EFC on shaded aspects above 6000 ft. In general this weak layer sits about 2-3 ft deep in the Wenatchee's. Check out the video in the gallery for more information. 

NWAC Forecaster Katie Warren was out in the Ahtanum/Darland Mt area on Tuesday. The prolonged period of sun and warm temperatures had done a number on the lower elevation snowpack and steeper southerly slopes. The snowpack on southerly aspects was wet and moist to the ground, but more supportable than other sunny aspects where you could punch through wet snow to your waist. Northerly aspects held a colder, more layered snowpack and the early February crust was easy to find about 4' down on a N aspect @ 6700'. 

Observations have been sparse. Help create a more accurate forecast by submitting your public observations here. 

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