Stevens Pass

Continued warming will increase the chance of rocks or cliffs shedding wet snow from above. We expect this problem to be isolated but don't linger below these overhead hazards on sunny slopes. Travel is still challenging, so bring appropriate equipment and allow for extra time to get in and out of the mountains safely. 

The warming trend will continue for the next few days, with snow levels topping out at around 11000ft on Monday afternoon. Once again, we will develop inversions and east flow, so expect lower elevations to stay cold and easterly pass-level winds to feel stronger than ridgeline winds. The east flow may help limit warming on southern aspects at low and mid elevations near and east of the crest.

There isn't much snow left to shed on direct southern slopes and surface crusts will help limit wet loose avalanches. However, as crusts break down and rocks warm in the sun, we could see snow shedding from above, fresh glide cracks, or isolated wet loose avalanches. Time your travel on south-facing terrain when the surface is soft, but before you are sinking in deeply to wet snow for the best conditions. These wet snow problems should be relatively isolated. That said, it's best not to linger beneath cliffs or rocks still holding snow, and always put a lot of distance between you and those dark frowns in the snowpack indicative of glide cracks.  

Travel hasn't improved much, and you will likely need to travel through rough and icy conditions under the forest canopy. Eastern and Western aspects have breakable crusts of varying thicknesses to navigate. Check surface conditions before committing to steep terrain and bring appropriate equipment for travel, such as crampons and ice axes. A group of skiers were rescued after significant injuries from a long sliding fall near Union Peak on Wednesday, highlighting these potentially dangerous, icy conditions.  

NWAC forecasters in the Stevens zone on Sunday reported decent skiing on steep southern slopes that softened in the sun and great recycled powder riding on shady terrain. Sun crusts were around an inch thick on due south slopes and supportable to skis. Slopes began to soften around 11 am, but it wasn't warm enough for any wet loose avalanche activity. The snowpack on sheltered northerly aspects is weakening, and surface hoar is widespread in valley bottoms and shady slopes. The upper snowpack consists of a layer of surface hoar buried by a dusting of snow over about 1ft of surgery facets resting over the 1/10 melt-freeze crust. Forecasters found a layer of weak snow directly over the 1/10 crust that was reactive in stability tests in two locations over the weekend. The next storm is now in sight for the end of the week, so we'll begin to put these weak layers to the test going into next weekend. 

If you get out in the mountains, let us know what you see by submitting an observation HERE or via the Avy App.