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

Travel with a spring mindset. Avalanche conditions are generally safe, but wet avalanches, cornice falls, and other snow-shedding events become more likely as afternoon temperatures increase or the sun warms snow on steep slopes. Plan your travels to avoid overhead hazards and steep sunny slopes in the afternoon. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Warming afternoon temperatures and the potential for clearing skies will increase the likelihood of wet avalanches in the afternoon. With little recent snow, these avalanches will most likely involve old snow shedding from steep rocky terrain and entraining additional snow as they move downhill. While these avalanches are typically predictable, they can still slide from above and catch you off guard. Keep an eye on overhead hazards, and don't linger beneath them. If you begin to sink into wet snow deeper than your calf, it might be time to move to lower angle or shadier slopes. Another common spring hazard is cornice falls. These large, heavy, overhanging chunks of snow are a hazard on their own, but they could also start a wet loose avalanche on the slopes below. Give these cornices wide margins in the afternoon.

    (3/31/2021) An example of a wet loose avalanche that started from a small cornice fall.

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Besides the potential for some lingering showers in the morning, Friday will be a mostly dry day with mild temperatures and increasing sunshine in the afternoon. The large majority of the zone picked up little to no recent snow. At the Cascade crest,  there may be up to 4-6" of recent snow with deeper drifts at upper elevation wind-exposed terrain. You may find isolated, small wind slabs if you venture above 6,500ft near the western edge of the zone. Assess wind-drifted snow before committing to terrain where a small avalanche could have high consequences. 

Lower elevations are melting out quickly this year, as highlighted in these observations from the Teanaway drainage and the Salmon la Sac area. You'll likely find long, challenging approaches, steep icy slopes, and other obstacles melting out. Open creeks, exposed rocks, and slide-for-life conditions can easily exacerbate the consequences of an avalanche. 

Let us know what you see as you travel in the mountains by submitting a public observation here. 

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