East Slopes Central

Minimal new snow, cooler temperatures, and cloud cover will limit most avalanche concerns. However, a powerful winter storm is forecasted to impact the Cascades late Sunday evening and Monday. Expect significantly increasing danger Sunday night and into Monday. 

Sunday will be a transition day before a strong storm impacts the Cascades. You may see clouds and light rain or snow develop during the daylight hours and then heavy precipitation beginning overnight and into Monday. A couple of inches of recent snow is overlaying a stout crust, and this new storm snow may not bond well with the underlying surfaces. Therefore, you can expect avalanche danger to increase significantly late Sunday evening and Monday. If you are out in the mountains on Sunday, be aware of the impending storm. You may need to simplify your terrain and choose lower angle slopes if you see dramatic increases in precipitation rates and blowing snow. 

Depending on aspect and elevation, various surface conditions are present. At upper elevations, slick, icy crusts may be a good sliding surface, and faceted snow on the surface could be a potential weak layer. Some slopes snow free on southerly aspects at lower elevations. If you are out in the mountains on Sunday, take note of the surface conditions you find and let us know by submitting an observation. 

Access is becoming steadily more challenging at lower elevations for the east slopes of the Cascades. Be prepared for snowmobile trails to have patches of bare ground and holes to navigate. Creeks are opening up, and hazards such as stumps and rocks are beginning to melt out. Travel cautiously to avoid impacts with