Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Expect more light snow and wind to add to shallow snow accumulation from earlier in the week. You could trigger small avalanches where the wind drifts snow near high elevation ridges. The recent snow could slide easily on very steep slopes and where it rests on a firm crust.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    If traveling in alpine terrain, expect to find small wind slabs on exposed features, especially on leeward sides of ridges. Check for warning signs such as stiffer, deeper snow, shooting cracks, and active wind transport. Steer around steeper slopes with cornices or thicker drifts nearby.

    While recent snow may be difficult to trigger in moderately steep terrain, it could slide easily on slopes 40 degrees and steeper, especially where it sits on a firm crust buried on the 30th. On Thursday, winds were strong enough to drift snow into pockets that skiers could trigger small avalanches. New snow and wind may add fresh slabs on Saturday.

    Example of small wind slab avalanche in wind affected, alpine terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

Light snow will move into the region early Saturday before a more significant storm on Sunday night. We may see a significant increase in avalanche danger Sunday night into Monday.

On Friday, the sun warmed snow surfaces and wet avalanches ran naturally on steep sunny slopes in the 4-6" of snow that accumulated since Wednesday.  On Thursday, I found about 5 inches of recent snow and small, localized drifts about 1 foot deep on Lichtenberg Mtn. I was able to trigger shallow wind slab and loose avalanches on a firm, old crust in very steep terrain. 

Regions covered