Bollettino valanghe

East Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
Vedi sulla mappa

Pericolo valanghe

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

In sintesi

The size and severe consequences of avalanches at mid and upper elevations maintain heightened danger.  Recent large and very large avalanches are clear reminders of what we're dealing with.  Continue to put a large buffer between you and terrain connected to large avalanche paths on the northern half of the compass.  

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    2–3

    This isn’t a snowpack set up to mess around with. Over the past week, multiple very large and widely propagating avalanches have been reported. In two separate involvements near Harts Pass, riders were buried and in one incident, one person was killed. Put plenty of space between you and steep open slopes on the north side of the compass. 

    The January Drought Layer is about 3 feet below the surface. Aside from the widespread recent avalanches, you may not see other signs of instability.  Avalanches may need a larger trigger like a snowmobile or cornice to break on deeper layers.  These avalanches could break across entire slopes, run long distances, and even reach valley bottoms. The only way to deal with this issue is to be diligent and avoid this terrain.

    (2/28/2025)

    A large avalanche near Hart's Pass that caught 2 snowmobilers and resulted in one fatality on February 28th. 

    HS-AM-D2.5-R4-O. Cone Mtn, NE, 6,800ft

    Photo: NCH

Avalanche Discussion

Preliminary Report: On Friday, February 28, three snowmobilers were riding near Harts Pass in the East North zone when they triggered a large slab avalanche. Two riders were caught and carried. One rider was fully buried and killed. The other was partially buried and injured. NWAC is working with local avalanche professionals to conduct an investigation. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community. (NE, 6,800ft HS-AM-D2.5-R4-O)

Temperatures cooled into Tuesday, even at lower elevations, and a good refreeze is expected again on Tuesday night.  This should end the robust wet snow avalanche activity that occurred for much of the last week.  Small wet loose avalanches are possible on very steep sunny slopes and below sunlit cliff bands, but new, and thicker surface crusts should prevent larger and more destructive wet snow avalanches moving forward.  

On Sunday, NWAC Forecasters visited the site of the avalanche fatality near Harts Pass that occurred on 2/28. You can see the initial observation, and a report will be issued in the next few weeks. In addition to this avalanche, forecasters found widespread persistent slab, wet loose, and wet slab avalanches up to at least D3. They encountered a natural wet avalanche that ran that day and experienced collapsing and shooting cracks.

While the January Drought Layer has been in our snowpack for the past month. It wasn’t until the late February blustery storm followed by warm temperatures combined to “wake it up.” Nearly daily avalanches and collapses have occurred into this past weekend, but have now slowed. The culprit? Weak facets buried 2–3 ft (70-100cm) below the surface. This problem isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

While persistent slab avalanches have been the focus since the late February storm, the warm weather the past week brought down impressive wet avalanches, some up to size D3 (very large). Natural wet slides occurred as recently as Sunday near Harts Pass including one that broke trees and gouged to the ground (SW, 4500ft). 

In the foothills and mountains well- east of the Cascade crest, slabs and wet snow over weak faceted grains led to collapses and a small avalanches. All the warm weather will eventually help strengthen the snowpack, but until temperatures drop and the snowpack freezes solid, keep these conditions could persist.

You can help us gather more data by submitting an observation HERE or via the Avy App. 

Regioni coperte