Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche danger is generally Low, but expect small wind slabs to develop in steep and exposed areas in alpine terrain. Most surfaces are a mix between supportable sun crusts and heavily wind affected snow. Danger should increase notably as a winter storm affects the area Friday night into Saturday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Increasing winds and snowfall during the day should begin to create small, scattered wind slabs. You could trigger a small slab, but you could also travel on most terrain safely. Slabs could grow in size, sensitivity and distribution by the evening as a cold front makes its way in. Especially look for small slabs to develop in alpine terrain, on steep slopes below cornices, and near rocks and cliffs.

    Look and feel for hollow-sounding snow, textured surfaces, and drifts. When in doubt or if observing active wind transport, travel around these features.

    (3/29/2023)

    Cross drifted slope above the road on the edge of Rock Slide at Blewett Pass.

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Wind is the big story going into Friday. An incoming winter storm should begin to affect the area, favoring the western edge of the zone Friday night into Saturday. Expect a significant increase in avalanche danger to come with the storm.

Most snow surfaces are a mix of sun crusts and wind textured surfaces. If you're lucky you could still find some soft, settled powder on sheltered north facing terrain. Observers reported stiff wind board on the north side of Cashmere on Thursday and nice corn skiing on sun softened surfaces at mid elevations.

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 this time but are another reminder that we have not transitioned to a spring snowpack quite yet. 

Regions covered