Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Recent avalanches are a good reminder that it remains possible to trigger wind slabs in exposed terrain on Tuesday. Approach steep wind-loaded terrain with caution and consider choosing more conservative routes to reduce your exposure to this problem. Shooting cracks, hollow-sounding snow, or whumphs are good reasons to dial it back. Minor wet snow instabilities may develop on solar slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Each day we move past the initial loading event, slabs will start healing up and become harder to trigger. However, the caveat is the increasing winds forecast for Monday night into Tuesday. While the likelihood has decreased, increased winds could always build a new generation of shallow, reactive slabs, especially in alpine terrain. Still, consider approaching any steep wind-loaded terrain with caution on Tuesday. 

    Be on the lookout for blowing snow, dune-like drifts, and recent cornice formation to help you identify where the wind has been at work. Tweak small test slopes and gather information from several data points before committing to bigger terrain in the alpine. Shooting cracks or whumphing collapses are obvious signs you found an unstable slab.

    Areas closer to Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass have a better chance of higher precipitation amounts. If you find over 6 inches of new snow in these areas closer to the Cascade Crest, consider storm slab instabilities in steep, open terrain. 

    (3/17/2025)

    This large natural avalanche occurred sometime Sunday evening or early Monday morning.  Approach this type of bigger, wind-drifted terrain with some suspicion on Tuesday. 

     Photo: Mike Rolfs

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Anytime the sun pokes out after fresh snowfall (especially in March), expect some level of wet snow instabilities to form. Pay attention to your aspect, timing, and the snow surfaces around you. Consider moving to a shader aspect once you notice rollerballs shedding or sticky, gloppy surfaces under your feet or machine.

    (3/17/2025)

    Small wet loose point releases from Sunday's warming. These existed on many steep solar aspects around Blewett Pass. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday is shaping up to be a rinse and repeat of Monday, just with slightly higher winds which will likely stir around some snow in exposed terrain. Observations were few on Monday, but notable. A backcountry traveler in the Mission Ridge area reported a large natural slab avalanche that likely occurred during the overnight hours, which aligned with a period of strong wind speeds at nearby weather stations. You can check out their observation here.  Avalanche professionals traveling in the Blewett Pass and Icicle Creek generally reported stubborn wind slabs below 6000 ft, but plenty of wind-affected surfaces and drifted over skin tracks from recent high winds.  

We’re coming out of an active week, weather and avalanche-wise. The recent storm brought a nice refresh of 6-12 inches of new snow across the zone in the past few days. In typical Cascade fashion, locations closer to the Crest received more favorable snow totals, while the eastern Wenatchee mountains picked up 4-6 inches of new snow. The common theme across all weather stations was the strong SW winds. Unsurprisingly, observers from Salmon La Sac (observation here) to Mission Ridge (observation here)  reported sensitive drifts and skier-triggered wind slabs. One triggered avalanche even resulted in a catch and carry on Red Mountain in the Salmon La Sac. Fortunately, the skier left the scene uninjured. These avalanches are a good reminder to ease into terrain after stormy periods. 

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