Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You may be able to trigger small avalanches in freshly drifted snow at the highest elevations. Watch for cracking and blowing snow to point you towards the danger. Just enough wind could drift the incoming snow as it falls on Friday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    If you venture to the highest peaks and ridgetops, watch for triggering small avalanches in recently drifted snow. You may see active blowing snow pointing towards suspect leeward slopes. Steer around the freshly drifted pillows that get deposited on steep slopes. While shallow, these new slabs of snow could be easy to trigger as they likely buried a weak layer of snow.

    You can expect just enough new snow (~4") and southwesterly to create a new avalanche concern. This should only be at the highest elevations and just below ridges. We don't expect wind loading to occur lower in the terrain.

    (12/6/2025)

    A skier triggered avalanche in wind-loaded terrain from earlier this season near Blue Lake. 6700ft, NW. SS-AS-D1.5-I

    Photo: Will Govus

Avalanche Discussion

Thursday night into Friday will bring light snow and moderating temperatures. Some valley temperature inversions may persist. In the past week, small loose wet avalanches occurred on southerly slopes. Otherwise, observers report generally stable conditions across most of the forecast area.

Far to the east, an observer near Mt Tiffany reported whumfing collapses and layering that could be problematic for avalanches with an additional load of snow. If you're in terrain with 3 feet or less of dry snow, take time to dig a snow pit. If you see obviously strong-over-weak layers and snowpack tests that fail suddenly, consider sticking to slopes under 35 degrees. 

Highway workers continue to clear debris on Highway 20, east of Early Winters Campground. The road will remain closed, including for recreational access, until the work is complete. Due to the limited access, we have less information to produce the forecast than usual. Be prepared to make your own observations and make conservative terrain choices to account for the uncertainty. You can help improve the forecast by submitting an observation. 

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