Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Expect dangerous avalanche conditions near the Cascade crest and in the Salmon la Sac area. In these areas you could see natural wet avalanches big enough to bury or injure you. Watch for triggering wet avalanches wherever you find significant rain falling on previously dry snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Avoid traveling or stopping under steep overhead terrain, especially below rock slabs and cliffs where large wet avalanches could come down from above. Carefully assess small test slopes before venturing onto any terrain over 35 degrees. If you find wet snow that slides easily, or rain water reaching deep into the snowpack, stick to lower-angle slopes.

    Wet avalanches will be most prevalent near the Cascade crest. Natural avalanches could to occur by mid-morning. They will be most likely where the snow surface stayed dry through Friday, which includes west through north through east aspects.

    (3/1/2023)

    An example of wet avalanche debris from 2023.

    Photo: Nate Hough-Snee

Avalanche Discussion

A wet storm will move in before day-break on Saturday, bringing rain to the zone before switching to snow later in the day. Precipitation will favor the Cascade crest, and we expect enough new snow to maintain dangerous conditions through the weekend. The Wenatchee Mountians will receive significantly less of both rain and snow, and will experience less elevated avalanche danger. 

On Friday, NWAC forecasters were in the Mission Ridge area. Like many other areas, a thin crust capped southerly aspects and all other aspects remained cold and dry. Weak surface layers abound, even on shaded southerly slopes. Large surface hoar was found in isolated areas. There are a crusts in the upper and lower snowpack that could be problematic if they get wetted or stressed by a significant load of snow. 

Regions covered