Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You could trigger small wet loose avalanches on steep slopes at lower elevations that receive direct sun. Cooler temperatures and wind should limit the avalanche danger above treeline. If you begin to sink into snow surfaces deeper than your boot with wet and punchy snow, or notice fresh avalanche activity then it's time to move away from steeper or more consequential slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    As the daytime warms up and the sun gets stronger, look for indicators of wet activity such as moist surface snow, rollerballs, and recent fan-shaped avalanches. Once you notice these, or if you begin to sink into wet snow deeper than your boot top, its time move off of steep slopes. You may be more likely to run into wet avalanches on steep east aspects, along with south to west-facing slopes later in the day. The potential size of loose wet slides will increase where you find more recent snow, especially in the mountains closer to the crest. While loose avalanches are predictable, they could be dangerous in large terrain features and terrain traps such as trees. 

    You may be less likely to trigger wet loose avalanches above treeline with the colder temperatures and wind. However, be sure to give cornices plenty of room when traveling on ridges and stay out from underneath them. 

    (3/31/2021) A wet loose avalanche (D1.5) off northeast facing terrain near treeline above Tumwater Canyon.

Avalanche Discussion

Slopes that face directly north may still hold dry snow, but the sun has formed crusts of various thicknesses on all other aspects. Cooler temperatures overnight into Friday should allow a decent refreeze of these crusts. Sunshine may begin to melt snow surfaces once again as the daytime warms up. On Wednesday and Thursday the sun was out and temperatures were very warm. Small loose wet avalanches ran on slopes from northeast to south to west facing aspects. The last storm finished up on Monday, and left around a foot of snow right near the crest, but only about half that for and areas further east such as the Wenatchee Mountains.

The lower snowpack is generally well settled, although a persistent weak layer from mid-January created prolonged instabilities and avalanches through February. Although we don't have any observations of avalanches on this layer since March 1, it is worth keeping on your mind as we transition into spring. This persistent weak layer can still be found about 2-6 feet below the surface throughout most of the zone, and takes the form of weaker facets above and/or below a crust. The most suspect areas for any deep persistent slabs at this point would be unsupported, and shallow and rocky slopes.

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