Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

There is thin snow cover at low elevations, and many early-season hazards, such as rocks, stumps, and creeks are exposed. If you venture to the alpine areas, you may be able to trigger small avalanches in wind-drifted snow near ridges. Travel cautiously in steeper terrain where low snow cover can cause small avalanches or falls can have high consequences. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    While limited observations result in significant uncertainty, strong winds and new snow may have built slabs on lee slopes near ridgelines in alpine areas. These slabs may have formed over older, weak snow layers from mid-November. You are most likely to encounter these small pockets of unstable wind transported snow at high elevations on exposed ridgelines. Use visual clues, such as drifts of snow behind rocks and trees, to indicate wind direction. You may want to use lower-angle routes if you observe actively blowing snow or snow that looks rounded, pillowlike, and sounds hollow.

    (11/23/2022)

    The small drifts of snow behind these trees and shrubs give you a good indication of the wind direction, right to left, in this photo.

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

Thanks for tuning in for our first forecast of the season! Access to many areas of the eastern Cascades is challenging, and we have limited information about the snowpack. Many trailheads only have 5-10" of snow, and winter travel off of established roads and trails is difficult. If you are headed out into the mountains this weekend, be prepared for long approaches on nearly bare ground. Many motorized areas have limited snowpack, and most have yet to begin any grooming operations. Sticking to established roads and trails may be the best option if you find enough snow to travel. Many areas on the eastern slopes of the Cascades enjoyed an early start to winter at the beginning of November, receiving 8-10" of snow down to valley bottoms. Prolonged, cold, dry weather followed this storm which transformed this snow into weak, angular, sugary snow crystals. During this dry weather, inversion conditions warmed upper elevations, and strong winds drifted this weak snow around. We received many observations of large surface hoar growth in lower elevation locations sheltered from the sun and wind. Recent snowfall buried this weak layer up to 10" in some areas. While warm temperatures over the last 24hrs have helped to strengthen and round these snow grains, we still have a lot of uncertainty about the extent and distribution of this weak snow layer. Mission Ride Ski Patrol reported that the snowpack was still weak and faceted in and around the ski area. When traveling on sheltered northern aspects, it is important to dig down and determine if this persistent weak layer exists beneath the new snow. Avoid traveling on steep terrain if you find a weak sugary layer of snow or feel the snowpack collapse beneath you. Saturday will be a transition day before a stronger winter storm begins to push into the mountains on Saturday night. This storm will favor the west side of the Cascades but expect 5-6" of snow with strong winds to fall east of the Cascade crest bringing increasing avalanche danger. If you take advantage of the calm before the storm on Saturday, let us know what you find by submitting an observation.

Regions covered