East Slopes South

Sunday was another mild day in the mountains with mountain temperatures rising into the mid to upper 40s after temperatures dropped to around the freezing mark Saturday night. That likely set the East South zone up for a corn cycle Sunday morning. However, increasing clouds and locally intense rainshowers in the afternoon, likely created some more saturated snow surfaces.

These rain showers should taper early Sunday evening with good clearing expected overnight and a solid overnight refreeze is expected in most locations with snow coverage. With windy conditions developing and extending through Monday, many slopes may stay firm late into the morning hours, or perhaps all day on shaded aspects. Anticipate these conditions if you plan to cross steeper slopes where a fall might be serious. Take the appropriate sharps and make sure you have practiced the skills to use them to arrest a fall. 

Avalanche hazard may be low, but limited snow coverage encourages us towards bigger objectives this time of year. This vulnerability to avalanches and other general mountain hazards increases in this terrain. Cornices might linger above you on a steep couloir that acts as a funnel for cornice chunks or falling rocks as the snow melts out. A sliding fall on a frozen slope with exposed rocks below can be serious. Continue to use travel techniques that minimize your hazards on the slopes above you, and come preparted with the tools and techniques to manage the risks in your terrain. 

Recent observations from nearby zones show a lack of avalanche activity due to the previously very robust 3/25 crust. This crust has been weakening in the Mt Hood and Crystal Mountain backcountries in recent days. On all but the highest elevation north-facing slopes, you are likely to find isothermal snow to the ground, a sign that the snow is trending towards a highly settled state. Patches of snow on a NE slope at upper elevations near Mission Ridge exhibited some slab reactivity above a crust. This snow structure may or may not exist in the East South zone, but new surface crust formation would likely limit any concerns this might pose.

The snow coverage woes in the East South continue to increase as the snow melts back, particularly on southerly slopes. You might find yourself walking on bare ground in search of snow at higher elevations. Expect a plethora of shallowly buried objects, high-flowing creeks, and difficult access. Pictures from the Crystal Mountain area in the gallery give you an idea. As the WA Cascades are still recovering from the epic December 2025 atmospheric river events, roads can be washed out or blocked by downed trees. Plan extra time into your day accordingly.

It feels less like April and more like June out there, but an upcoming mid-week storm is likely to bring accumulating snowfall Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week. Be sure to tune back into the forecast if you plan to recreate around this time-frame.

The prolonged warm spell in March decimated the already struggling East South snowpack. Below 5,000 ft, snow coverage is too limited for avalanche danger at this time—so we’re issuing a No Rating for lower elevations. You can still find rideable snow at middle and upper elevations.

Are you heading out into the mountains?  Let us know what you see by submitting an observation here or on the AvyApp.