Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Monday will be a notch warmer, setting the stage for wet avalanches on steep slopes that receive sun. Move to colder slopes once you notice signs of warming like rollerballs, pinwheels, or if you're sinking past your ankles in wet, sloppy snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Sun and rising temperatures will keep the threat of wet avalanches in the forecast. You can anticipate this problem by considering your aspect vs. timing of when you might be on any given slope. Look for signs of instability, like small rollers falling out of trees or small fan shaped slides. Feel for moistening snow surfaces on slopes in the sun. You can use test slopes to see how any area might react. These slides should remain small, but may be able to entrain more than you'd think, especially in larger terrain features. Wet loose avalanches could be precursors to larger wet avalanches, so move to less steep terrain out of the sun if you notice these point releases. 

    Large cornices exist across many ridgelines and alpine features across the zone. They often fail much farther back than expected. During these warm sunny periods, they can become weaker and easier to trigger. Give these some space, especially with the warming trend

    (1/28/2024)  Public Observation

    You could see similar wet avalanches on Monday. 

Avalanche Discussion

Preliminary Report: NWAC is saddened to report an avalanche fatality as a result of a cornice fall on Mount St. Helens. On Friday, March 29, 2024, a snowboarder summited the peak. While standing near the top, he triggered a cornice and fell into the crater triggering a large slab avalanche on the slope below. NWAC is working with Skamania Co Sheriff’s office and SAR to compile a report. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and communit

Discussion:

The warm-up is on across the East South. On Monday, look for freezing levels to push over 110000 ft. We haven't received any recent observations from the weekend in the East South, but we suspect the new snow from last week is melting down with the warm temperatures. 

Lower elevations have less snow than average. You may even find bare ground near sno-park elevations in the Ahtanum area. Expect shallow coverage, open creeks, and punchy wet snow. In areas where adequate snow coverage exists, wet avalanches could occur.

If you get out,  let us know what you see by submitting a public observation here.

Regions covered