East Slopes South

Heavy snow, wind, and rain will cause a widespread natural avalanche cycle on Monday. Avalanches may be very deep,  destructive, and could break trees. Avoid going into, near, or underneath anywhere an avalanche could start, stop or run while a significant avalanche cycle is underway. 

Observations and intense weather through Monday give us confidence that the nearby Cascades East Central zone will hit extreme avalanche danger on Monday. We think the Cascades East South zone may have many of the same snowpack characteristics that make our northern neighbor so dangerous with only slightly less rain and snow arriving in the next 24 hours.

Expect very dangerous conditions in the Cascades East South zone on Monday. Heavy precipitation, strong winds, and milder temperatures continue to build dense slabs to overload a cold, layered snowpack. This is the perfect recipe for natural and human-triggered avalanches. Naturally occurring wind and storm slab avalanches along with cornice failures will be very likely near and above treeline. Below the rain/snow line, expect natural and easily human-triggered wet avalanches. 

The threat of very large avalanches running on deeper persistent weak layers still exists. The natural avalanche cycle we are expecting to occur within the upper snowpack may be the type of trigger that can initiate one of these powerful and destructive deep avalanches.

If you do travel in the mountains, choose slopes under 30 degrees. Avoid going into, near, or underneath anywhere an avalanche could start, stop, or run. Avalanches will run at all elevations, could be very deep and destructive, and could break trees.  

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.