Avalanche forecast

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Expect that avalanche concerns may be minimal Sunday morning with a sharp rise in danger by afternoon. Avalanches will become likely at the upper elevations. A storm will bring snow, extreme winds, and cold temperatures. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Avalanches will become bigger and easier to trigger late in the day.  They will be most likely above treeline. Strong, westerly winds may build slabs further downslope or below ridgelines. Look for signs of instability such as shooting cracks, blowing snow, and fresh avalanches. Stay off of leeward slopes that are steeper than 35 degrees. Steer around drifts, wind features, and convex rollovers. 

    Give cornices plenty of room when traveling on ridges and stay out from under them.  Travelers are surprised every season when cornices break further back than they expect. 

    (3/24/2021) Overhung cornices in Cutthroat Creek, 6,400ft, ENE. Photo: Josh Hirshberg

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Breaks in the clouds could trigger loose wet avalanches on steep, sun-exposed slopes. Skies will be more broken further east of Washington Pass. Look for signs of instability such as rollerballs and fan-shaped avalanches as the temperature warms. The size of loose wet slides will increase at higher elevations. Use caution on very steep slopes and near terrain traps where these avalanches could be dangerous.

    (3/24/2021) A number of small natural loose avalanches and overhung cornices in the Cutthroat drainage. ENE, 7,300ft. Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

A strong winter storm will move into the area on Sunday. The bulk of the snow accumulation will be Sunday afternoon into the night. In many parts of the zone, the avalanche danger may be minimal in the morning but could increase significantly by sunset. As typical, areas closer to Washington Pass will receive the most snow and will have the most elevated avalanche danger.

On Wednesday in the Cutthroat drainage, observers reported around 5" of new snow with 1 foot since the 21st. Shallow wind drifts were observed near ridgetops, and small loose dry avalanches were easily triggered on slopes steeper than 40 degrees. The new snow fell on a recently buried sun crust on all aspects but direct north. On northerly and shaded aspects, observers were still reporting cold dry snow above about 6000' in elevation. An observer also reported a large recent glide avalanche in Cutthroat at around 5,400ft that appeared to have occurred since March 21st. Since the beginning of March, the region has undergone a slow warming trend. Observers have reported sporadic cornice fall.  The mid-January weak layer that plagued most of the Cascades for the month of February has not been a major concern near Washington Pass.

Regions covered