Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Where you find 1 foot or more of harder, more cohesive snow overlaying softer, sugary snow, you could trigger an avalanche large enough to bury you. It is also possible to trigger small loose avalanches of low density snow that can knock you over and carry you into hazards such as rocks and cliffs. For a safer and more enjoyable day in the backcountry that doesn't tempt fate, steer around complex terrain and slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2

    This type of avalanche can break in surprising ways, wider than expected, and from flat terrain, but rollovers and convexities are prime terrain features for initiation. Areas where the setup for this problem exists will be closer to the Cascade Crest. Slabs will be particularly sensitive where the wind has made them deeper and denser on downwind slopes. Wind-loaded slopes are often found just below ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. Rippled, uneven snow surfaces and cornice development will point you toward where this suspected terrain is.

    As you move around the terrain, pay attention to the depth and cohesiveness of the new/recent snow. You're looking for the poor snowpack structure laid out in the Bottom Line. Cracking, collapsing (whumpfing), and recent slab avalanches are clear indicators that instability exists, but you might not see any before it's too late, which makes managing this problem tricky. When push comes to shove, you can just default to low-angle terrain free from overhead hazards.

    (2/3/2025)

    A skier triggered persistent slab avalanche near White Pass. This slide released over a 100ft wide and 2-3ft deep. WNW, 5600ft SS-ASu-D2-R2-O

  • Loose Dry

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

    All of this new and recent snow is very soft and dry, so it often lacks bonding and cohesion. Expect to see sluffs of dry snow anywhere throughout the zone, but this problem is more apparent closer to the Cascade Crest. The northern end of the zone may see periods of sunshine tomorrow, and the likelihood of this problem will decrease significantly on south-facing slopes in that area. Dry loose avalanches start at a point and entrain more snow as they move downhill and fan out. Be mindful of terrain traps below you and avoid this problem by manuevering around steep rollovers or gullies.

    (2/3/2025)

    Pushing on small wind drifts mostly just resulted in dry loose sluffs in the East South zone (02/03)

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

We are moving further away from the initial heavy loading events that put the persistent slab problem on the forecast. However, we are working with a snowpack that is uniquely weak and abnormal to the PNW. It is still too soon to put total faith in a steep slope's stability when you otherwise might have in areas where this problem exists. Just over the border in the West South zone, an NWAC Forecaster was still finding numerous signs of instability as recently as Wednesday. Give yourself wider safety margins and put together a conservative route plan for the day while we give the snowpack more time to heal. There is plenty of stellar (pun intended for the snow nerds out there) riding and skiing in "cold smoke" pow on low angle slopes!

With all of this soft, dry snow, it won't take much for it to get picked up by even light wind. Don't rule out the possibility of encountering a fresh wind slab avalanche. Wind-loaded snow could be found at upper elevations on all aspects, but you are more likely to find thicker slabs and cornice development on northerly slopes. Similar signs of cracking and recent slab avalanches will indicate instability.

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