Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Upper valley locations near the crest between Leavenworth and Cle Elum should pick up measurable new snow with strong westerly winds at ridgelines. Expect to find reactive wind slabs in alpine terrain on Thursday. You could trigger small loose wet avalanches anywhere you find more than a couple of inches of snow on steep slopes that face the sun. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snow is stacking up quickly in the mountains near the crest from Leavenworth to Cle Elum due to a convergence zone. Temperatures are dropping, and winds are blowing. Expect to find small wind slabs on exposed features as you gain elevation. West and northwest winds may primarily drift snow onto easterly aspects near ridgelines. Look for signs of windslab such as stiffer or hollow snow, shooting cracks, and active wind transport. Steer around steeper slopes with cornices or thicker drifts nearby, and be careful of freshly drifted cornices. 

    Example small wind slab avalanche from a few weeks ago. 

    Photo: Ryan Minton

Avalanche Discussion

Dry snow is making a comeback as I write, and a convergence zone is dumping snow on Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes. You could expect to find 3-6" of new snow on upper elevations near the crest by Thursday. Winds are already strong enough to drift snow, and should continue to do so through the daytime. Keep on the lookout for the right ingredients for small, shallow wind slabs if you do venture up into the higher terrain near the crest. Shooting cracks and actively blowing snow are a couple signs to look for. 

It is spring, and any new snow is likely going to melt quickly, especially if the sun comes out. Keep an eye out for signs of wet loose activity such as rollerballs and wet, sticky snow. Steer around steep slopes if you find new snow to be warming as you could trigger small loose wet avalanches in these areas. 

The recent combined stretch of mild weather created weak, wet and saturated snow in many areas. The snowpack has begun to refreeze, and this should greatly improve supportability of the old, wet snow. If you find an unsupportable and punchy snowpack, or you sink deeply into wet, rotten snow, then stay off steep slopes nearby. There was a smattering of wet snow-related avalanche activity from March 21-29th. Observers completing the Rock Mountain Traverse on Tuesday heard and saw large (D2) natural avalanches in Crescent Lake Bowl. These were from steep SE facing terrain in the alpine. A few wet slabs were documented that likely ran on Sunday in Whitepine Cirque beneath cornice features. Last Sunday I rode at Blewett Pass and found a saturated, unsupportable and nearly fully transitioned snowpack with minimal surface refreeze. 

Regions covered