Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Dangerous conditions exist at mid and upper elevations because of widespread wet snow avalanche hazards. Triggered and natural wet snow avalanches are likely on steep slopes; these can run long distances and endanger you even in low-angle terrain. Safe riding means staying off of and out from under steep slopes and corniced ridges.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Destructive wet avalanches (slab and loose) remain a concerning problem on Monday. Sunday introduced .5 -.7 inches of rain on a dry snowpack, and it is forecast to continue during the overnight hours before tapering on Monday. While it may not feel as rainy as previous days, you should still shape your travel decisions with the consequence of large, unpredictable avalanches. 

    Leading up to this rain event, we saw a good amount of new snow - wind - and a pattern of reported triggered and natural avalanche activity around the region. Slabs were thick, especially in wind drifted terrain. So, ease out of this rain event with caution until the meltwater production is shut off with a proper refreeze. Keep in mind that wet avalanches are notoriously hard to predict and forecast, so the best strategy to increase your safety buffer by avoiding travel on and below steep terrain, which includes the run-out of large avalanche paths at lower elevations 

    Sagging cornices and glide cracks may exist across the zone. Give these chunks of snow a wide buffer. 

    (3/23/2025)

    Extensive natural roller balling on north aspects around Blewett Pass on Sunday. 

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

Forecasting wet avalanches is tricky, especially each day we move past the initial rain event without a proper refreeze. We suspect the peak activity occurred on Sunday as rain fell on a dry snowpack, but historically we have seen very large wet avalanches fail 2-3 days after the initial rain event or warm-up. Water will often move through the snowpack during these warm periods despite the decrease in rainfall. It keeps us on our toes and forecasters and it should help keep your terrain selection simple until we see a proper refreeze. 

Prior to the rain event brought 6-15 inches of new snow across the zone. The highest amounts fell near Bumping Lake, Chinook, and areas closer to White Pass and Mt Adams. While we didn’t hear of any avalanche activity in the east-south mountains, we did hear about numerous natural and human-triggered avalanches in neighboring zones. Most of these avalanches occurred in wind-loaded terrain, but some storm slabs released in more sheltered terrain closer to the Cascade crest. The amount of recent slab activity is notable as we head into this warm, wet pattern. 

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