Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Some fresh snow and windy conditions over the weekend formed slabs of wind-drifted snow where you could trigger an avalanche. Slopes below ridgelines, confined rocky features, and the base of cliffs are likely places to find these unstable slabs. Consider steering around steep terrain with deep drifts or textured surfaces. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Windy conditions with 5-6" of snow over the formed shallow wind slabs on lee aspects, and professionals in the area reported sensitive wind slabs on Sunday. The most suspect slopes are steep terrain beneath ridgelines and at the bases of cliffs. Most wind slabs won't be large, but could easily sweep you downhill and potentially bury you in more consequential terrain.  Look for long shooting cracks on small test slopes or stiff surface snow that slides easily in hand pits as signs to consider choosing lower-angle or sheltered terrain. 

    In addition to fresh shallow wind slabs, older slabs exist over weak snow on the 1/28 crust.  The distribution is difficult to determine, but there were two human-triggered avalanches on this layer in the past week. The most likely places for an avalanche on this layer are upper elevations on northerly and easterly aspects. Consider the consequences of triggering an avalanche larger than expected before committing to consequential terrain features. 

    (1/3/2025)

    Shooting cracks like in this photo are a good indication of unstable wind slabs. 

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

The East North zone enjoyed a refresh of around 5-6" of snow overnight on Saturday, along with moderate winds. Monday won't bring much additional precipitation, but moderate winds will likely continue. 

There is now 5-6" of fresh snow over the 2/7 interface, which varies by aspect.  On southern slopes, it's a thick melt-freeze crust, whereas on northern aspects, it's either a thin crust or soft snow at upper elevations.  Some isolated cracking in the new snow in sheltered terrain was reported on Sunday, but there likely isn't quite enough fresh snow for a storm slab problem. The 1/28 interface is now buried 10-12" deep. In some upper-elevation areas, weak faceted snow exists over this crust.  Snowpack investigations across multiple areas didn't find this layer to be consistent or follow any discernible pattern throughout the terrain. So, while isolated, it will be tricky to identify which slopes might produce a larger, more consequential avalanche. 

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