Bulletin d’avalanche

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sun
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

Saturday will bring warmer temperatures and filtered sunshine. You could trigger small wet slides as well as shallow wind slab avalanches at upper elevations. While avalanches will be small, use caution in steep terrain and where you could be pushed into rocks or trees. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wet avalanches will be most likely at upper elevations and on sunny slopes, especially in open terrain where the recent snow is on a smooth crust. Use caution on very steep slopes where a small avalanche could push you into terrain traps like rocks, trees, or creeks. Check how easily the snow slides as you move through the mountains.

    As warm temperatures and sun increase, the snow may become wet or sticky. It may be difficult to trigger these avalanches on many slopes that lack sufficient snow, where surfaces are really rough, or where the recent snow is frozen.

    (1/29/2026)

    Roller balls are a sign that you can trigger a loose wet avalanche. In the neighboring Stevens Pass zone. Lake Susan Jane, 4,500ft, NE

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

  • Wind Slabs

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

    While the Eastern Cascades haven't received much snow, you may be able to trigger shallow wind slabs at upper elevations. Avalanches could be the largest near the cascade crest, especially west of Cle Elum. Look for localized pillows of snow or textured snow surfaces as indicators of wind-drifted slabs. In very steep, confined, or cliffy terrain, a small avalanche could be dangerous. Use caution and consider staying off steep slopes with these terrain traps. 

    (1/5/2026)

    Small pockets of wind, like this drifted snow, may be where you find unstable snow on Thursday. 

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

Thursday through Friday brought 4-8" of snow to the east central zone. Precipitation on Thursday night and Friday was mostly rain up to 5,500ft. On Saturday, warming temperatures and sun could melt snow higher into the terrain than on previous days.

An NWAC forecaster in the Wenatchee Mountains on Thursday found around 4" of fresh snow with deeper drifts in isolated areas. The new snow fell on slick crusts and potentially old, weak surfaces. If you're out in the mountains, monitor how well the new snow bonds with the old surface. Where the new snow falls on weak or slick surfaces and slides easily, avalanches may be more likely with additional snowfall. 

Then there's dry ground across many low-elevation or south-facing slopes, reminiscent of early-season conditions. Some areas, like the Wenatchees, lack consistent snow coverage for on-snow recreation altogether. Plan ahead for challenging travel and keep a watchful eye out for exposed obstacles and open creeks.

Régions couvertes