Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Happy New Year! The various storm instabilities are strengthening, but you could still trigger a small avalanche in freshly wind-drifted snow at upper elevations. Use caution in very steep terrain, where a small avalanche could have high consequences. Stiff snow cracking out in front of you indicates you could trigger an avalanche on a larger or steeper slope. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Cold temperatures overnight, light winds, and just a dusting of snow are helping to strengthen our snowpack. But you might find shallow pockets of fresh wind slabs at upper elevations. Steep terrain below corniced ridgelines, confined rock features, or unsupported slopes are more likely spots to trigger a wind slab. While avalanches might be small, this type of extreme terrain could carry high consequences if you're carried over cliffs or rocks. Cracking or small slabs of snow breaking loose on test slopes indicate you could trigger an avalanche.

    Current reports are that older, larger wind slabs are gaining strength. However, with limited data, the less likely possibility of a larger avalanche is worth considering if you are at high elevations in complex terrain. 

    (12/30/2024)

    Small slabs in very steep terrain. These likely failed overnight on December 29-30. 

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

We'll ring in the new year with a bit of fresh snow, decreasing winds, and a chance of clearing in the afternoon. Cold overnight temperatures may have weakened surfaces, so small, loose dry avalanches might occur, especially if the sun contributes to any warming in the afternoon. While loose dry avalanches are more predictable than slab avalanches, be aware of where you are in relation to your backcountry partners and avoid the runout of your own sluff. 

The frequent storms have limited observations from upper elevations. So, if you're venturing out during the break in weather, proceed cautiously and be prepared to dial back your terrain choices if you identify red flag signs of instability. Cracking, collapsing, or recent avalanches are all reasons to back off steep terrain objectives. 

An NWAC forecaster got into the upper elevations in Lanham Creek on Tuesday. They found little signs of instability as they traveled and snow stability tests produced stubborn or no results on the weak storm interfaces from earlier this week. There was 7-8 feet of snow at 5500ft. The top 8-10 inches of recent snow is weakening with the cold temperatures, and surface hoar and rime were found on the snow surface. Older wind slabs could be identified under the low-density snow but did not produce any cracking. There were challenging travel conditions below 4200ft, especially under the forest canopy, with just a few inches of snow over a stout crust. 

If you're in the mountains, let us know what you see by submitting an observation.

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