Stevens Pass

Avalanche danger is minimal, but a few inches of snow and windy conditions on Sunday afternoon might form very small slabs of wind-drifted snow along ridgelines. These likely only pose a hazard for travel in extremely steep terrain. 

A light-duty storm will bring 1-3" of snow to the Stevens Pass zone on Sunday afternoon. The convective nature of these spring storms can bring short, but intense and windy, bursts of snowfall. But, with minimal snow accumulation, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on avalanche hazard. At most, you'll see very small wind slabs form at upper elevations on steep slopes. These won't be large enough to pose much of a hazard unless you're seeking out more vertical-style terrain for climbing. While they won't be large, they might form over buried facets and surface hoar, making them surprisingly reactive for how shallow they might be. Last week, Stevens Pass picked up 1-1.5 ft of snow, accompanied by strong westerly winds. We don't have much field data for upper elevations, but there is extensive wind effect, and observers reported natural wind slabs in White Pine Cirque.  On Friday, a skier triggered a large wind slab avalanche in exposed alpine terrain on Snoqualmie Pass. While it's a different zone, it's good information to keep in mind for alpine terrain. We expect wind slabs to be isolated and difficult to trigger by now, but uncertainty remains. So make frequent observations and err on the side of caution before committing to steep, wind-loaded alpine terrain. 

Friday was the warmest day of the week, and an NWAC Forecaster reported widespread natural wet loose activity by 10am. Another public observer reported similar findings. Now, these steep, sunny slopes have thick surface crusts with varying degrees of breakability. Due south aspects are more likely to be supportable for boots, while east and west aspects may be punchier. Prepare yourself for low snow cover, open creeks, and icy surfaces, creating various travel hazards.