Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

At upper elevations, isolated steep slopes may shed wet snow, particularly off rock slabs and cliffs warming in the sun. But for the most part, you'll likely experience more significant hazards due to thin coverage and challenging travel, including creek crossings, slick crusts, and shallowly buried obstacles.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    It's unlikely there will be widespread wet avalanches. But you should identify isolated terrain features such as rock slabs and cliffs that may still shed slabs of snow. Wet avalanches will probably be isolated to southern aspects above 6000ft. Upper elevations are currently challenging to access, and we have minimal information about the snowpack. However, where dry snow exists under thin melt-freeze crusts, combining warm temperatures and sunshine could lead to isolated wet loose avalanches in alpine terrain. The northern portion of the zone may hold more dry snow and an increased likelihood of wet avalanches. 

    Consider traveling on lower-angle slopes if dry snow is becoming wet and heavy and you begin to see rollerballs. Be aware of overhead hazards from steep rock slabs or cliffs that may still shed slabs of snow. Even a small avalanche could have high consequences if you're pushed over and fall through steep terrain with exposed obstacles. 

    (12/11/2023)

    Steep cliffs and rocks are the likely spots for wet avalanches. 

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Sunday will be another day of easterly flow and inversions, with much warmer temperatures at higher elevations and overcast skies with cold temperatures in the valleys. With this setup, you may find variable but challenging travel conditions with icy, slick surfaces down lower and wet, punchy snow up high. Some reports indicate that the northern portion of East Central is holding more dry snow. Consider checking out the East North forecast if your trip plan is for areas closer to the zone boundary. 

We have limited information and quite a lot of uncertainty about the snowpack at upper elevations. Further north in the zone, you may find dry snow above 6500ft. Further south, even at these upper elevations, the snowpack may be wet and punchy or have a melt-freeze crust on the surface. If you take advantage of the better weather this weekend to get into alpine terrain, plan for this increased uncertainty and be prepared to make snowpack assessments as you travel. Look for blowing or drifting snow and use quick hand pits or test slopes to see how the surface snow reacts. 

December 9-10th, an impressive storm brought 8-20 inches of snow that ended in rain. The snowpack has been slowly freezing, though warm temperatures haven't helped. Observers reported a breakable crust extending to upper elevations. We estimate the rainline was likely around 6,500ft during the storm.

You can contribute to the forecast by letting us know what you see. Submit a public observation here. 

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