East Slopes Central

Sharply decreasing temperatures should significantly reduce the avalanche concerns, even with strong ridgeline winds. There is still an unlikely chance of triggering a small avalanche in isolated pockets of wind-drifted snow if you push into complex, aggressive terrain at upper elevations. So, use normal caution, practice good travel techniques, and frequently assess conditions.

Even with the increasing winds on Thursday and the chance for a dusting of snow near the Cascade Crest, there just isn't much snow to drift around. So, any avalanches in freshly drifted snow should be small and very isolated. Triggering an older wind slab is becoming unlikely. However, there is still a slight chance of triggering a wind slab that rests over weak snow. The most likely place to get caught in a wind slab is at upper elevations, in very steep, unsupported terrain, or in confined rocky chutes. This is also the same terrain where a small avalanche could have high consequences, so consider this potential before stepping out into more complex, aggressive terrain. 

The warm, sunny weather over the past few days formed a melt-freeze crust on the surface of southern aspects, and even northerly aspects at mid-elevations warmed on Wednesday and could now have a very thin crust. Upper elevations are a mix of stiff wind-affected snow and melt-freeze crusts. Some northerly low elevations that stayed cold below the inversion still might hold soft snow. But you're probably more likely to encounter challenging travel over crusts and refrozen corral reef. 

Help NWAC Forecasters reduce uncertainty by submitting an observation!