Lawinenlagebericht

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Wed
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

We expect wet avalanches will be less likely on Tuesday, but steep slopes, rocks, or cliffs in the sun could still shed wet snow. Pay attention to overhead terrain, and if you find wet, heavy snow, move to shady or lower-angle slopes. Challenging travel, exposed rocks, creeks, and brush are likely the most prominent hazards to avoid. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1

    Steep rocks and cliffs shedding snow onto slopes below are the most likely places for wet avalanche activity. In addition, surface crusts on south-facing slopes have had another freeze-thaw cycle to strengthen.  So, we anticipate that the terrain where small wet avalanches might occur will be isolated. We have limited information and some uncertainty with the distribution of this problem. So, watch for surface crusts to break down and snow surfaces to become wet or for rollerball activity to indicate an increasing potential for wet avalanches. 

    The stubborn inversion will persist, keeping a complex temperature profile throughout the zone. Temperatures will be colder in the eastern valley bottoms and warmer at higher elevations and areas further west. This complex setup means it will be difficult to pinpoint precisely where there will be the highest likelihood of wet, loose avalanches. If you use northern or shady slopes for sliding and riding, you'll likely find soft, dry snow and little chance of wet avalanches. 

    (3/24/2022)

    Example of wet loose avalanches off the steep steep, cliffy slopes of Rock Mountain.

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

While the air mass warmed slightly on Monday, easterly flow at lower elevations pushed the cold air pooled on the east side of the Cascades through the pass and kept elevations at or below 4000ft cold. Temperatures on the west side of the pass and at mid- and upper elevations climbed above 40°F. Surface crusts formed on southerly aspects overnight, and new observations of wet loose avalanches were limited. However, we don't have a wide variety of observations throughout the zone, so we have quite a lot of uncertainty surrounding their distribution. 

Observers in the Stevens Pass area reported very warm temperatures at ridgelines. Although, north-facing terrain still held cold, dry, weak snow surfaces. They also noted that crusts buried in mid-November are beginning to weaken, break down, and become faceted. While this isn't contributing to any current avalanche hazard, we are continuing to monitor it. Low elevations still have minimal snow cover and many hazards, such as creeks, brush, and rocks, to negotiate. 

Recently, skiers and riders reported isolated small wind slab avalanches throughout the zone. While all of these avalanches have been small, it is important information to consider if you're taking advantage of the high pressure to venture into high-elevation alpine terrain. Depending on the terrain feature where you are traveling, small avalanches could carry high consequences if a fall could take you over cliffs or into rocks. 

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