Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Recent winds have raked through the eastern mountains, leaving firm slabs of drifted snow on various aspects due to unusual loading. While these slabs may be tough to trigger, the resulting avalanche could break 1-3 ft deep and ruin your day. Carefully evaluate wind loaded pockets before exposing yourself to more consequential terrain features.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Wind slabs are becoming more stubborn to trigger with time. Winds have blown from multiple directions over the last few days, so look for these slabs as you move around the compass rose. Strong winds have pressed these slabs into firmer 1F-P hard slabs in exposed alpine terrain. While these slabs may be stubborn, keep in mind that any triggered wind slab has the potential to break wider and deeper than expected if it fails on weak snow above the Early February Crust. 

    Use visual clues such as blowing snow and textured surfaces to help you identify where the wind has been at work. Be suspect of terrain features that encourage drifting, such as the leeward sides of ridgelines, alpine couloirs, gully features, and cross-loaded depressions. Dial it back if you notice shooting cracks, whumphs, or hollow-sounding snow. 

    (2/18/2024)

    Triggering a wind slab in the wrong spot could result in a much larger and wider avalanche if it breaks on old snow above the Early February Crust. 

    Forecasters observed this 1-2 day-old avalanche in the Teanaway drainage on Sunday. 

    W aspect, 6200 ft

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

Monday will be a rinse-and-repeat for the East Central mountains. The cold air pool on the east side of the Cascades is eroding with warmer temperatures moving into the region, so look for freezing levels to hover around 4000 ft. Some wet snow may materialize during daytime warming or if the sun pokes out. So watch for rollerballs or small wet loose avalanches if you notice the surface crust breaking down. 

The Wenatchee Mountains and other drainages in the southern reaches of the zone received 10-16" of recent snow. Initially the new snow fell very cold and low density, however recent warm temperatures are helping this new snow consolidate. In many places, the recent snow rests over weak, faceted grains or surface hoar associated with the Early February Crust (EFC) or a sun crust on southern aspects. Without a cohesive slab, this hasn't become a widespread problem yet. However, in areas where the wind drifts snow into stiffer slabs or the sun and gradually warming temperatures begin to consolidate the new snow, we'll likely start to see avalanche activity increase throughout the zone. 

On Sunday, NWAC forecasters traveled into the Teanaway Drainage and found lots of wind-affected snow and warming temperatures. They even reported a 1-2 day old wind slab (W aspect, 6200 ft) that broke on weak facets on the Early February crust. This avalanche broke 3-4 deep and ran 200 ft. 

Earlier in the weekend, a group of skiers near Ingalls Peak in the Teanaway had a close call and triggered a small soft slab in wind-drifted snow. The skier was caught but, fortunately arrested on the bed surface as the avalanche failed. This avalanche occurred on a south aspect at 5500 ft. You can check out the full avalanche observation here. 

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