East Slopes South

Avalanche conditions are generally safe. New accumulations have been light across the zone, but winds have been strong enough that you may find small, isolated wind slabs in exposed terrain. Keep an eye out for these slabs in bigger terrain where a small avalanche could be consequential. Firm, refrozen snow and challenging access due to low snow may be your bigger hazards on Tuesday. 

Tuesday will be a rinse-and-repeat of Monday. Freezing levels should spike slightly higher, but with little new snow, this will have minimal impact on the avalanche danger. Weather stations picked up a period of strong SW winds late Sunday evening and early Monday, which may have stirred up small amounts of recent snow in exposed terrain, so be mindful of small wind slabs, particularly in terrain where a small avalanche could have significant consequences. Some of these isolated slabs may trigger easily, depending on what they formed over. While the robust, 3/25 crust is limiting avalanche concerns deeper in the snowpack, it's also creating slick travel across the terrain. If you head out on Tuesday, consider packing the traction and a self-arrest tool if you plan on venturing into steeper terrain. Some wet snow should form on sun-exposed slopes as the day heats up. 

Recent observations have been minimal in the East South, but an NWAC forecaster traveled at nearby White Pass on 3/29 and reported roughly 6 inches of new snow on shaded aspects and triggered small pockets of wind slabs on these same aspects. They reported variable, often breakable travel on E-S-W aspects.  Expect less recent snow in the East South, but you may find similar softer riding conditions on northerlies and variable travel on other aspects. 

As you’d expect by looking around, your more significant hazard will come from low snow and slick crusts. Give yourself extra time to access and exit the mountains, and be sure to pack the proper gear to help you navigate firm surfaces. 

Last week’s warm spell decimated the already struggling East South snowpack. Below 5,000 ft, snow coverage is too limited for avalanche danger at this time—so we’re issuing a No Rating for lower elevations. You can still find rideable snow at middle and upper elevations. 

Are you heading out? We could use the observations in this zone. Let us know what you see by submitting an observation here or on the AvyApp.