Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Snow showers will only help to hide the wind-loaded pockets of snow that you want to avoid. Look for clues like cornices and drifts to help you anticipate and steer around steep slopes where the wind blew the snow into firmer and thicker slabs. Even with all the new snow, early-season obstacles continue to make travel more difficult and dangerous.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    While this storm brought a healthy shot of snow to the East South, it’s the slopes where the wind drifted the snow into firmer and deeper slabs that you want to watch out for. Unfortunately, soft inviting powder will probably hide these wind slabs from view. Cornices, drifts, and the amount (or lack) of snow in the trees can help you anticipate which aspects and features might harbor this problem. Pay particular attention near ridgelines, under cliffs, and along mid-slope gullies. As you break out of the trees and into the alpine, you may find that these avalanches are larger and more widespread. So, seek out wind-sheltered or lower-angled terrain to avoid this issue.

    (11/28/2022) Snow (or lack there of) in the trees can serve as a great clue to help you locate potentially wind loaded slopes. Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Information is sparse in the East South zone, but weather stations around the region generally report 10-15 inches of new snow. In some locations, this easily doubled the depth of the snowpack! By Thursday afternoon, snow showers may bring an additional 3-6 inches to some areas. This should not be enough to significantly affect the avalanche hazard, but it may add a bit of complexity by covering some of the common wind textures you frequently observe. 

It’s hard to say exactly what the snow structure looks like in the East South, but if nearby zones and the recent cold and snowy weather pattern are any guide, you may find quite a bit of spatial variability. This could include layers of weak sugary (facets) snow sitting on rain crusts. Let us know what you see by submitting an observation (and photos!) from your travels. 

Even with all the new snow, the snowpack is still relatively thin. Below treeline, there generally isn’t enough snow to create much of an avalanche hazard. You’ll likely encounter numerous early-season obstacles. Open creeks, exposed rocks, and thinly covered vegetation continue to make travel more challenging and hazardous. 

Regions covered