Bulletin d’avalanche

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Wed
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
1 · Faible
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 7 months ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Avalanche hazard only exists where new snow recently accumulated on the western side of the zone. Some previously wind deposited snow could still be unstable on exposed, downwind slopes, and wet snow avalanches could start to appear when the sun comes out. Avalanches will be small, but the consequences of being carried downhill are big if you hit one of many exposed hazards.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    This problem is trending toward unlikely and is confined to areas closer to the Cascade Crest. As you gain elevation and begin to enter the alpine, start thinking about whether this problem might lurk in wind exposed terrain. Most likely places are just below ridgelines and within cross loaded gullies. Scoured surfaces on one side of a ridgeline and small cornices on the other will clue you into which direction the wind previously blew. You probably won't see clear red flags of cracking or recent avalanches. If you don't like the perceived consequences of being carried down a particular slope in a small slide, find wind sheltered terrain to descend instead.

    (2/8/2026)

    Scoured slopes, rime on the surface, and drifts behind the rocks all show signs of wind loading on nearby slopes.

    Photo: Payton Schiff

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    If you're out in full sun, then turn this problem on in your brain. Direct sunshine can destabilize recent dry snow, and there is enough of it at upper elevations that a slide could grow large enough to catch and carry you. Fresh rollerballs and chunks of snow falling from cliffs and rocks are your first indication that the snowpack is warming. This problem will be held at bay if wisps of clouds drift around, but don't be caught off guard by thinking it is cloudy everywhere if you start your day at the trailhead in overcast conditions. It will most likely be sunny higher up.

    (12/24/2025)

    Natural roller balls falling off cliffs indicate a warming and weakening snowpack.

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

Last weekend's modest storm brought 4-6 inches of new snow to areas immediately adjacent to the Crest. An NWAC forecaster traveling near Van Epps Pass on Sunday confirmed this, reporting 6 inches of snow at 6900ft. Although those systems weren't particularly windy, stubborn wind slabs formed in exposed, lee terrain. These slabs rest over the 02/07, which presents as a crust in most places and can be quite slick at times. The zone then picked up a trace amount of additional precipitation on Monday morning, and weather stations reported an uptick in wind throughout the day. There probably wasn't enough recent snow still available for transport to increase the size of potential avalanches for Tuesday, but some very isolated slabs in extreme terrain may be deep enough to cause an avalanche large enough to bury you.

There are a lot of exposed hazards in the terrain that you don't normally see at this point in the winter. These include rocks, open creeks, and downed logs. You'd be in for a painful ride if you were to be carried in a small avalanche over any of these, so take a good look at the slope you plan to descend before dropping in. Additionally, low elevation terrain, southerly slopes, and areas to the east of the zone have painfully thin coverage. Where there’s snow, it may be wet and mushy, icy, or have breakable crusts. This creates its own host of travel hazards. Give yourself extra time and precaution to manage these “early season” conditions.

Régions couvertes