East Slopes Central

Wednesday night and Thursday will be a few degrees warmer. We expect clear skies to help surfaces re-freeze overnight. But take note of how surfaces feel in the morning. If they are already soft, they could be more prime for small, wet loose avalanches. During these spring days, monitoring surface conditions is the best way to avoid triggering a wet avalanche or being caught below when a cornice falls. If surfaces warm in the afternoon and you're sinking in deeply, it might be time to move to lower-angle terrain. It's also best to move quickly as you travel beneath overhead hazards, such as cornices or rock slabs, that could still shed snow. 

An NWAC forecaster in the Salmon La Sac and Teanaway area reported very low snow cover, challenging access, and minimal recent wet avalanche activity. Earlier in the week, an observer near Mission Peak reported nice, supportable spring "corn" snow at upper elevations on a northerly aspect on Tuesday. Over the weekend, folks in the Teanaway found travel difficult due to either very icy or punchy surfaces. Most aspects and elevations will have thick, icy surface crusts in the morning, so consider bringing equipment to prevent long sliding falls on steep, icy surfaces. 

Coverage remains a major issue, particularly at lower elevations and on southerly slopes. You might find yourself walking on bare ground in search of snow at higher elevations. Where you do find snow, watch out for exposed obstacles.