Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A potent and windy storm will drift fresh slabs of snow at upper and middle elevations. Avalanches will be easy to trigger, could break widely, and occur naturally on steep leeward slopes. During this dangerous period, you can pick safer travel options by identifying and avoiding areas where the wind is depositing new snow or staying off of slopes greater than 35 degrees altogether. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Watch for recent avalanches, cracks shooting through the snow, and active wind transport as signs that you could trigger avalanches on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Use caution as you approach any steep slope. A layer of weak facets is under the new snow and resting on a crust, which could make it unusually easy to trigger slides, even from far away. Consider placing a large terrain buffer between yourself and any steep slope. You should definitely do so if you remotely trigger avalanches or experience whumpfing collapses.Strong winds could form drifts on a variety of wind-exposed slopes. Upper elevation start zones immediately on the leeward sides of ridges are obvious features to avoid. Keep an eye out for more subtly cross-loaded slopes and wind-loaded features lower in the terrain than you might normally find them. 

    (12/25/2024)

    An example of a skier-triggered wind slab avalanche from last season. Delancey Ridge, 6,500ft, S

    Photo: Will Govus

Avalanche Discussion

It's still early, and the snowpack is just beginning to build. Expect challenging travel at low elevations and watch for rocks, logs, and open creeks. Difficult access to snow-covered terrain is limiting information. If you venture out in the storm, be prepared to make observations and snowpack assessments. Watch for the "red flag" indicators of recent avalanches, rain on dry snow, rapid new snow accumulation, and others mentioned above. The current storm will bring mostly snow with fluctuating temperatures and strong winds. The big question is how much precipitation will accumulate and where rain will fall. We suspect that terrain with existing snow cover will receive mostly snow. With that in mind, watch for wet avalanches if you encounter wet, uncohesisve snow. Keep checking the Mountain Weather forecast for the latest.With the warm start to the 25-26 winter season, we have less snowpack information than usual to start daily forecast operations. For zones and elevation bands with less snow than needed for avalanche hazard, we will issue a forecast with No Rating. Anticipated avalanche and weather conditions will still be updated daily. NWAC will issue an avalanche danger rating for a zone when enough snow to produce avalanches has accumulated at middle and upper elevations.

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