East Slopes Central

Thursday marks the end to warm and sunny weather.  The biggest hazard is slippery surfaces that will take you for a scary ride should you slip and fall so ensure you're carrying appropriate traction equipment. A much anticipated storm will bring a dramatic increase in avalanche danger for Friday.

The end of June-uary is in sight! Thursday will be the calm before the (literal) storm with increasing cloud coverage and wind. The storm will come in right side up (start out warm and then get colder), which will be good from an avalanche hazard standpoint. Light snow and rain should start falling Thursday night, and then the main event will be on Friday. Current models show 4-10 inches of new snow across the zone by Friday night, with the potential for more into Saturday. We won't know for sure how things will play out until the snow starts accumulating, so be sure to keep a close eye on the avalanche forecast for the coming days.

The snowpack is still highly variable right now, and on a cooler day like Thursday, odds are you will encounter some variation of slick surface crusts. These conditions will be more widespread on southerly slopes that recently underwent numerous melt-freeze cycles. But you can also find firm, irregular surfaces lower down within the trees or higher up in wind-affected snow on other aspects. The consequences of a slip and uncontrolled fall on a steep slope could be substantial if you are carried into trees, rocks, or cliffs. Be prepared to deal with variable conditions by bringing appropriate gear you know how to use and allowing extra time to reach your destination.

We are calling on you, forecast reader, to help NWAC Forecasters reduce uncertainty! If there has ever been a time to submit an observation, it will be this weekend. A uniquely weak snowpack exists where faceted snow has formed at the surface across the forecast region and is about to be buried by new snow. We need all hands on deck to report signs of instability and avalanches, whether you see natural slides or trigger them yourself. Include some photos and keep it simple; your forecaster appreciates you already!