Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Expect dangerous avalanche conditions on Wednesday. Strong winds, heavy snowfall, and weak layers in the snowpack are a recipe for large avalanches. Avalanches could break widely and run naturally from overhead. Avoid traveling on or under steep slopes until this storm plays out.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    The most dangerous locations will be steep, leeward slopes near ridgetops at mid and upper elevations. Avalanches could be deep, very large, and destructive in these areas. On Tuesday, strong to extreme winds drifted snow into thicker slabs. Avoid traveling on or under slopes greater than 35 degrees, particularly where you find recently formed wind slabs. At lower elevations, avalanches could carry you through rocks and stumps. 

    Watch for obvious signs of danger like cracking in the snow, collapsing, and recent avalanches. There's a possibility that avalanches could be surprising and break widely across terrain features. 

    (1/7/2024)

    Even with little new snow, a natural wind slab occurred between 1/6-1/7 near Harts Pass. While we don't know what layers were involved in this slide, it is a bullseye sign of unstable snow. 

    Photo: Jason Davis

Avalanche Discussion

This storm may overload the various weak layers that developed during the prolonged dry(ish) period in the Eastern Cascades. "Weak and variable" sums up the snowpack around the zone. There are several decomposing crusts and layers of sugary facets. In some locations, these layers present as individual prominent bands; in others, they all meld together. On Sunday, NWAC staff went near Cutthroat Lake and found near-surface facets forming on south aspects.   Crusts with weak, faceted snow below and above failed on isolation in snowpack tests in the upper snowpack.Even with the recent snow, coverage remains thin, particularly at lower elevations. Watch for hitting rocks and logs or falling in open creeks.  If you're in the mountains, let us know what you see. Submit an observation here!

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