Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

We may receive just enough new snow and wind at upper elevations to create shallow, but reactive wind slabs. Use caution on very steep slopes if you find more than a few inches of new snow, or signs of instabilities like shooting cracks through wind drifted snow near ridgelines. When the sun comes out and if there's some fresh snow, expect small rollerballs or wet sluffs on steep slopes that catch the sun. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Look for instabilities to develop for parts of the East Central near the crest, on northwest to northeast aspects above treeline. Faceted grains rest above a crust from early March, and may cause reactive or surprising conditions to develop once enough new snow has drifted over it. Look for shooting cracks and use small, steep test slopes to check and see how the new snow is bonding. With a small storm weakening as it moves east, there's uncertainty whether or not we'll get enough new snow and wind to increase avalanche danger much. If we receive over 6", expect reactive conditions to develop near and above treeline, especially on slopes where wind has drifted the new snow. 

    If the sun comes out and there's some new snow, expect small rollerballs or wet loose avalanches on south facing, and lower elevation slopes. Wet sticky snow can also be a good indicator that you could trigger small loose wet slides. 

    Example small wind slab.

    Photo: Will Govus

Avalanche Discussion

As a weak storm approaches the area, we should see increasing avalanche danger beginning Sunday. We're not expecting much new snow for the East Central on Sunday, but some mountains near the crest and further south (such as the Salmon la Sac) should be favored. By Monday, we may have enough new snow for dangerous conditions to develop. Weak faceted snow, sometimes overlying thick crusts, has been documented on sheltered northern aspects throughout the zone. This notoriously weak structure may persist and cause lingering instabilities well into the week. Please submit an observation of what you find out there on Sunday, it will help everyone better understand the potential slab avalanche problem that we may have to navigate moving forward.

Various challenging surface conditions exist, such as shallowly buried avalanche debris, slippery crusts, and thin snow cover at low elevations. A widespread avalanche cycle occurred throughout the Cascades on the 28th-March 1st, and left plenty of large piles of debris to navigate. 

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