Bollettino valanghe

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
Vedi sulla mappa

Pericolo valanghe

Tue
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
Open full map
Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 8 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Triggering an avalanche will be easier as you move into wind-exposed middle and upper elevation terrain. Recent winds, light accumulations, and plenty of soft snow to move around are perfect ingredients to keep wind-loaded areas fresh and sensitive to the weight of a human or machine. Be mindful of steep terrain that can collect wind-drifted snow and steer around slopes with obvious signs of recent wind loading. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Your chances of finding reactive wind slabs will increase as you gain elevation into exposed, middle and upper elevation terrain. Look for these to be larger and more widespread closer to the Cascade Crest, such as the Salmon La Sac, the Stuart Range, and north of Lake Wenatchee. There's plenty of dry snow available for transport, and more light snowfall on the way to keep slabs fresh in open terrain that promotes drifting. Additional accumulations overnight could camouflage existing wind slabs, making them harder to identify.

    You’ll want to pay close attention to the terrain you’re in and its exposure to wind. Areas below ridgelines, next to or below cliffs, and along gully walls are common places you may encounter these slabs. Using small text slopes or snowpack tests can help you gauge slab reactivity from slope to slope. Shooting cracks or stiff, hollow-sounding areas are clear signs that you found a wind slab.

    (12/21/2025)

    Wind lips, rime, scoured slopes, drifts... all point towards firmer pillow-like wind slabs. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

You’ll find anywhere from 12-20 inches over a crust with varying thicknesses that formed on 12/18 across the East Central. In typical Cascade fashion, you’ll find these higher amounts closer to the Cascade Crest and further north in the zone. While Mission Ridge and Blewett Pass are at the lower end of those totals, strong winds may keep slabs stiff and sensitive in exposed terrain. Observers report 1-2 feet of snow over the December 18th near McCue Ridge and the Dirtyface area, respectively. We also received a couple of observations on Sunday reporting warming surfaces, so you may encounter new crust along some solar slopes and at lower elevations on Monday.

The last few days have been dominated by colder, stormier weather with significant winds. We have extremely limited snowpack data due to difficult access. But we do know the recent snow fell on bare ground or slick crusts. This creates significant uncertainty about the bond to the underlying crust and low overall forecast confidence. To mitigate this increased uncertainty, make frequent observations using quick hand-pit tests and take extra time before entering larger or more complex terrain. 

We are still assessing the widespread damage from the recent flooding and windstorms. Be prepared to be turned around due to road closures, washouts, mudslides, or downed trees. When you do make it to continuous snow, watch for shallowly buried rocks, trees, and high-flowing creeks. 

The weather over the past few weeks has been extraordinary, with torrential rains, extreme winds, flooding, and landslides. Many communities are dealing with damage to homes, infrastructure, and businesses, stretching resources thin. These events have limited access to the mountains for all of us. State and local resources are working diligently to reduce the worst of these impacts. We can help by being respectful of local communities, obeying road closures, and heeding ski area uphill travel policies.

Regioni coperte