Avalanche forecast

East Slopes South

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago.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

Challenging travel conditions with firm, icy surfaces may be the greatest hazard you encounter. Watch for changing conditions on sunny slopes as snow surfaces thaw throughout the day. You may be able to trigger a small wet avalanche in steep, rocky terrain by the afternoon.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Tuesday will bring slightly cooler temperatures than previous days, and it will take a while for the sun to soften the surface of the snowpack. This will help limit any avalanche danger to just a few isolated spots in the afternoon. You’re most likely to find wet snow on steep sunny slopes with rocks and cliffs where the snowpack is shallower. A quick way to check for loose wet avalanches is by using your boot. When you sink into wet snow past your ankle start anticipating loose wet avalanches on nearby slopes. While these slides should remain small and localized to just a few features, don’t let them catch you by surprise and push you into a terrain trap. Even a small avalanche can hurt you if it carries you over a cliff or buries you deeply in a gully.

    (1/24/2022)

    A few inches of foot penetration mid-day on a sunny south aspect near 6000ft in the Little Naches SnoPark area. Continue to monitor boot penetration throughout the day as a way to assess the potential for wet avalanches.

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

A solid freeze Monday night should help create generally safe avalanche conditions. Another spring-like day will cause little change, and avalanches remain unlikely. Warm temperatures and sunshine look to continue for the next several days.

NWAC forecasters visited the Little Naches SnoPark on Monday and found a stable snowpack with no new avalanches (observation). The top 2 inches of surface snow thawed on sunny slopes by mid-day, and nice riding conditions with spring-like corn could be found with good timing. A large glide crack was also observed, but no glide avalanches. It was a good reminder to identify and avoid any slopes with crevasse-like cracks in the snowpack. The recent warm temperatures and sun also caused significant loss in snow cover. Many low elevation slopes have melted out, while SNOTELS throughout the zone report total snow heights of 2-5ft between 4500-6000ft.

The snowpack has been through a lot in the past two weeks. It’s seen extended periods of above freezing temperatures, several rounds of rain, and at least two wet avalanche cycles. This created a strong and consolidated snowpack in many areas. So, while the continued warm temperatures and sunshine should catch your attention, they likely won’t result in an increase in danger. Expect icy and often variable snow in the morning. Make sure you have the equipment and skills you need to navigate these potentially dangerous travel conditions. 

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