Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
East slopes WA Cascades - between Snoqualmie and White Pass
In order to provide a better and more complete avalanche forecast on a regular basis, the primary avalanche forecasts will be issued between 11 AM and 12 PM PST on a daily basis, with updates issued whenever significant deviations occur. The timing and the products will be adjusted as necessary during the upcoming winter in order to produce the best possible avalanche information.
Weather Service ID WAZ-513-518-519-018-042-501-502-ORZ-011
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||||||
| 6am-Noon | Noon-6pm | 6am-Noon | Noon-6pm | 6am-Noon | Noon-6pm | |||
| Danger Trend | Level | Slightly Increasing | Slightly Decreasing | Slightly Increasing | Strongly Increasing | Level | ||
| 7000' | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| 6000' | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| 5000' | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||
| 4000' | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 3000' | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Notes: This represents a regional scale avalanche forecast for each elevation and time period shown. For complete information see the detailed avalanche forecast. | ||||||||
Jump to Danger Scale Legend at bottom of forecast
Forecast
WASHINGTON CASCADES EAST OF THE CREST
Friday and Friday night: Considerable avalanche danger above 6000 feet and moderate below, slightly increasing late Friday.
Saturday morning: Decreasing moderate avalanche danger below 7000 feet.
Saturday afternoon and night: Increasing avalanche danger becoming considerable above 5 to 6000 feet and moderate below.
Outlook Sunday: Further slight increasing danger becoming considerable above 5000 feet and moderate below.
Snowpack Analysis
Significant warming occurred early Thursday along with decreasing precipitation over most areas. The exception was the extreme north Cascades and Olympics that received heavy amounts of wet snow. This weather produced a widespread increase in danger Thursday causing a significant avalanche cycle with many natural avalanches seen early Thursday and again Thursday afternoon on a variety of aspects.
The current danger level has diminished markedly as of early Friday as previous wet snow layers have begun refreezing in many areas and earlier wind slabs have continued settling.
There also still remains some good terrain and vegetation anchoring at lower elevations helping to cause a lower danger there.
Remember that your snow reports are welcomed on the FOAC Snowpack Information Exchange at www.nwac.us
Detailed Forecasts
Friday and Friday night
Gradually increasing light to moderate rain or snow cooling and becoming mostly snow late Friday and Friday night. This should allow for old snow layers to refreeze and begin to build some shallow new snow layers on mainly lee slopes at higher terrain.
Increasing caution is urged later Friday, especially on steeper open slopes receieving the greatest new snow amounts, such as on the volcanic peaks.
Saturday and Saturday night
A brief break between weather systems should allow for decreasing winds early Saturday and a slight decrease in danger. Increasing light to moderate snow at cooling temperatures and increasing winds later Saturday and Saturday night is expected to cause an increasing danger. New unstable wind slab layers are expected to develop late Saturday on lee slopes in higher terrain.
Sunday and Sunday night
Moderate to heavy snow showers, especially along the west slope areas along with strong crest level winds is expected to cause a further increasing danger. Increasingly deep unstable wind slab layers are expected through Sunday, especially on northeast through southeast facing slopes at higher elevations.
Danger Scale Legend
| 5 | = Extreme avalanche danger | |
| 4 | = High avalanche danger | |
| 3 | = Considerable avalanche danger | |
| 2 | = Moderate avalanche danger | |
| 1 | = Low avalanche danger | |
Warning = Extreme or high avalanche danger occurring or expected to occur within 12 hours: at or below 4000 feet in the Olympics and/or WA Cascades; at or below 5000 feet in the Mt. Hood Area.
Watch = Warning conditions expected within 12-48 hours.
Special Conditions = Unusual conditions meriting special attention that do not meet Watch or Warning criteria.
Click here for complete definitions of the avalanche danger scale.
Backcountry travelers should be aware that elevation and geographic distinctions are approximate and that a transition zone between dangers exists. Remember there are avalanche safe areas in the mountains during all levels of avalanche danger. Contact local authorities in your area of interest for further information.
NWAC weather data and forecasts are also available by calling 206-526-6677 for Washington, 503-808-2400 for the Mt Hood area, or by visiting our Web site at www.nwac.us. Remember that these avalanche forecasts apply to back country avalanche terrain below 7000 feet outside of developed and operating ski areas or highways.