Avalanche forecast

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You can trigger large avalanches in wind-drifted snow in and near alpine areas. Avoid wind-affected terrain, especially near ridges in areas close to the Cascade Crest. Stick to wind-sheltered areas, choose conservative terrain, and be cautious of early season hazards.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds are forecast to switch to easterly overnight and persist through the day on Monday. There is plenty of low-density snow available for transport, and I expect new wind slabs to form on west and north aspects. Avoid steep slopes near ridges that have evidence of wind loading. Travel slowly and observe how the snow feels beneath you. Stiff, dense, and hollow snow is a good indication that you should avoid steep slopes.

    (12/12/2021)

    Example : Wind textured snow, Blewett Pass

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

While winter reappeared in earnest with snow accumulations up to18 inches, the East Central zone received less impressive snow totals than other areas of the Pacific Northwest. We have little information and a lot of uncertainty about snowpack conditions near and above treeline. We do know that the new snow fell on various surfaces, including rain crusts, soft snow, or firmer recently wind deposited snow. In and around the Wenatchee mountains, new snow fell on the bare ground except at the highest elevations. This could cause the snowpack to act differently from one slope to the next. Pay attention to signs of instability such as recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and collapsing within the new snow. 

The storm is petering out, and we will see a brief break in the weather. If you take advantage of the lull in the weather to get into the mountains, approach new terrain slowly and cautiously. Use quick hand pits and small test slopes to help you identify how well the storm snow is bonding to the underlying surface, but remember that there is a lot of variability, and the snow on one slope may react differently than a similar slope around the corner. 

At lower elevations, you are unlikely to trigger avalanches in areas with vegetation, tree cover, and talus. There isn’t quite enough snow. With the early season snowpack, even small avalanches can have high consequences if you impact rocks, trees, or creeks. 

There is significantly more snow at the western edge of the East Central zone. In areas near the crest, it is possible avalanche danger may reflect zones west of the crest. Use the forecast map to get an idea of how the avalanche danger varies throughout the cascades. 

On Saturday morning, December 11th, an avalanche fatality occurred in the Silver Basin area of Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. See the preliminary report for additional details. 

Regions covered