Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow is stacking up, and winds have continued to blow it around. You could trigger large wind slabs near and above treeline on steep slopes with recent drifting. Expect another dynamic spring day, and conditions could change notably from morning to the afternoon with daytime warming.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You'll find about a foot of new snow in the mountains, but in many areas snow depth could vary from recent wind drifting. Slabs could be thicker and larger near and above treeline. Look for signs of recent wind transport as you gain elevation, especialy as you near ridgelines and cornices. Look and feel for stiffer, cohesive snow. Pay attention to signs of instability such as long shooting cracks and other recent avalanches if you see them. Identify steep slopes of concern such as areas below cornices, and near rocks and cliffs.

    (4/1/2023)

    Small, human triggered wind slab at Mission Ridge on Saturday.

  • Loose Wet

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

    With daytime warming, snow surfaces may become heavier and more cohesive. This could make for more reactive storm snow conditions with slabs, and loose slides. So keep a lookout for wet and sticky snow surfaces as the day progresses, and expect wet loose 'pushalanches' to become possible if snow becomes moist and sticky.  The new snow should slide easily on the older crust, and wet loose slides have the potential to become large in larger terrain. Move away from steeper slopes if you observe rollerballs and moist snow.

Avalanche Discussion

The zone picked up 6-12" on Saturday, and new snow should continue to trickle in. Observers reported a few small natural slabs in the Salmon la Sac on Saturday, and wind slabs would fracture on test slopes. Over at Mission Ridge, control produced small wind slabs in the morning.  Later in the day we got a report of a ski triggered wind slab in the area (see photo below). Winds continued to blow in the moderate to strong range throughout the zone, generally from the west. These likely buffeted many west facing slopes. The sun came out in the afternoon for most places, so expect a thin surface crust on S-W aspects, but it could soften quickly during the day on Sunday.

At mid and upper elevations, a deep and layered winter snowpack exists. If you dig down, you will find older layers of melt-freeze crusts from around Christmas, MLK, and Valentine's day and a layer of surface hoar buried on January 4th. These layers are not a concern for avalanches at the moment, but are another reminder that we have not transitioned to a spring snowpack quite yet. 

Regions covered