Bollettino valanghe

East Slopes Central

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Thu
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 5 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Avalanche conditions are variable across the zone. Avalanche hazard may be higher farther north, where more snow has recently fallen, and hazard is lower to the east, where almost no new snow exists. As you gain elevation, start to look for signs that dry snow has drifted into unstable slabs in downwind terrain. You can dial it back to lower angle or more sheltered terrain if you see cracks shooting from your equipment or recent slab avalanches.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    Near the Cascade Crest, small wind slabs will develop throughout the day with periods of convective snow showers. As you gain elevation and begin to find new, dry snow, start to put this problem on your radar. Wind slabs often form just below ridgelines or within concave terrain features (cross-loading). Blowing snow will be the first obvious clue of slab development. Uneven, textured surfaces and a change to denser feeling snow are other visual and tactile observations to use. Be cognizant of your terrain selection. Although small, an avalanche could easily sweep you off your feet and carry you into hazards below.

    Conditions on the far northern end of the zone may be tracking more closely with the East North zone. If you encounter more than a few inches of new or recent snow in these areas at middle or upper elevations, expect larger, more widespread slab development. Fresh cornices may be larger and can serve as an identifiable clue to where the wind has recently blown snow. Consider reading the East North forecast before heading out to get a sense of how conditions could be different.

    Conditions to the eastern side of the zone, primarily the Wenatchees, are generally safe. It is unlikely you will encounter enough new snow for wind slabs to exist.

    (1/5/2026)

    Wind slabs should be small like this in most of the zone on Wednesday. Shooting cracks clearly indicate instability.

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday's storm overproduced across the forecast region. For East Central, weather stations near the Cascade Crest picked up anywhere from 0.9 to 1.8 inches of precipitation by Tuesday evening. We believe about half of that initially fell as snow, before temperatures warmed back up and precip turned back to rain. Uncertainty lies in how much snow held on at the highest elevations, and in terrain in the northern end of the zone.

Mother Nature doesn't always play by the rules, and the rules in this case are the zone boundaries we humans have created for the NWAC forecast region. If it wasn't already clear, conditions are variable across this big zone, and we have uncertainty given a lack of observations. You can safely bank on hazard to be low at lower elevations zone wide, but things start to get less straightforward higher up. All in all, no matter where you are in the zone, as you begin to enter more alpine terrain, start evaluating conditions more closely.

Prior to this most recent storm, layers of snow wetted by rainstorms last week refroze, forming strong surface crusts. Below the crust, moisture still lingers within the snowpack. It's unlikely this last bout of rain was enough to permeate through such thick crusts. Any wet slab avalanches would be quite unexpected, but if you find you are able to sink deeply through old, moist snow, consider some probability of this problem existing. 

Other non-avalanche hazards abound. The zone is riddled with open creeks, random holes, exposed logs, and rocks. Lower elevations and southerly aspects are especially grim. Take your time as you travel around and plan for difficult mountain access.

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