Bollettino valanghe

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Mon
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
3 · Marcato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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In sintesi

Warming is prolonging dangerous conditions where avalanches may be very large and break widely across the terrain.  Steer clear of steep, open slopes, especially in sunny or wind-affected terrain. Weak layers in the snowpack introduce significant uncertainty, but treat all steep terrain with suspicion and manage the unknowns by selecting conservative terrain on low-angle slopes. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1.5–2.5

    Put a wide buffer of terrain between yourself and any wind-loaded slope over 35 degrees, and even sheltered slopes should be treated as suspicious. You could trigger avalanches from far away and from overhead terrain. The most dangerous areas will be above 5,000ft, where the wind formed stiff wind slabs. Sun and warming temperatures increased avalanche activity on Saturday, and observers reported multiple natural and triggered avalanches. One avalanche had a crown nearly a half a mile wide (Pictured here). Many of these slides occurred on southern aspects, and warming could have contributed to the increased avalanche activity. With another warm day in store, this trend could continue, and we may begin to see avalanches in more sheltered terrain. Given the high consequences, it's worth taking a big step back and giving the snowpack time to adjust. Another warming-temperature watch-out situation is that cornices may weaken and fall. They are a hazard in their own right, but could also trigger large slabs on the slopes below. Another solid reason to avoid overhead exposure from corniced ridgelines and steep wind-affected terrain. 

    (2/28/2026)

    A widely propagating natural avalanche below Cutthroat Peak. This avalanche is suspected to have failed on weak snow over the 2/7 crust. 7000ft, S-SW aspectN-R4-D2.5-O 

    Photo: NCH

  • Loose Dry

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    The first day of March will bring spring-like weather with warm temperatures and sunshine. Watch for wet avalanches on sunny slopes as the day progresses. Many will be smaller point releases on steep slopes, but they could combine with persistent slabs. You can avoid wet avalanches by moving to shadier low-angle slopes as the day progresses. With uncertainty and overlapping avalanche problems, stick to slopes under 35 degrees.

    (1/14/2026)

    An example of loose wet avalanches, broken cornices from January. Hinkhouse Peak. S, 7,400ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

After a major wind event, prolonged significant warming is continuing to stress an already weak snowpack. We have uncertainty around how long warming will continue to prolong instability. But considering these unknowns and the high consequences of these very large avalanches, give yourself wider safety margins around large, open slopes. Consider sheltered, low-angle terrain as a safer alternative. 

Since midweek, there's been a widespread cycle of natural and triggered avalanches in the East North zone. On the 28th, observers reported widespread natural avalanches, and an individual was partially buried in a large avalanche in wind-loaded terrain. We suspect that the weak, faceted snow over the 2/7 crust is the culprit in many of these occurrences. Many avalanches over the last week have been large to very large, and some have had wide crowns. Some avalanches were shallower, more typical of wind slabs at the base of cliffs. 

1-2 feet below the surface is a weak layer over a crust (February 7th). Immediately above the crust are weak faceted grains and, in some places, surface hoar. The January 28th crust is thicker and another 6-12" deeper.  On southerly aspects, there are more crusts and less dry, weak snow on the surface. West of Washington Pass, overall, the layers will be deeper, with thicker crusts and more snow between them. Further north and east, in places like Hart's Pass and the Chewuch and Twisp River drainages, the snowpack is shallower and weaker. We have little recent information in the eastern mountains and suspect a very weak snowpack.

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