Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Avalanche conditions will be generally safe on Wednesday. Use caution on slopes steeper than 35 degrees if you find cracking or collapsing in wind-affected terrain or see signs of wet snow instability. Watch out for obstacles in the shallow, early-season snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    It will be unlikely - but not impossible - to trigger a small wind slab avalanche. You might find deeper slabs at upper elevations near the Cascade Crest where more snow fell over the weekend. Rippled, uneven snow surfaces indicate that wind has transported snow, and soft, pillowy wind slabs may be lurking nearby. Hop on your skis or off your sled on small test slopes to check for instability before you hop onto steeper terrain. Shooting cracks and collapsing indicate that you have found an unstable slab. If you see signs of instability, stick to lower angle, wind-sheltered slopes.

    (12/9/2024)

    Look for signs of recent wind-affected snow such as rippled, textured snow, drifts behind trees, and corniced ridgelines.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

The avalanche hazard is straightforward today, but there is a potpourri of weather and snowpack conditions that have us forecasters musing about over dinner. Without getting too deep into the weeds, here are some further considerations to keep in mind when making your travel plan for the day:

  • Keep an eye out for signs of wet snow instability. A wet loose avalanche is typically preceded by rollerballs and pinwheels. If the snow under your skis or sled feels sticky, or you are punching through the snowpack, move to lower angle or shadier slopes.
  • Gusty wind overnight on Tuesday could have pushed unconsolidated surface snow around and built fresh slabs in exposed upper-elevation terrain. These slabs will be small but with early season conditions, consider the consequences of being knocked over by even a small avalanche.
  • Watch out for barely covered hazards like stumps and downed logs. Especially at lower elevations, an early-season snowpack still exists or is non-existent altogether. Give yourself time to navigate a variable snowpack, no matter your elevation.
  • There is still limited data on conditions within the zone overall, so be prepared to make your own snowpack assessments if you get out. Digging quick hand pits along the skin track or sled trail is an easy way to look for layers of concern.
  • Help NWAC forecasters reduce uncertainty by submitting an observation!

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