Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You may be able to trigger slab avalanches in wind-exposed terrain near and above treeline on Tuesday. If you see or feel shooting cracks, stiffer snow, or wind-textured surfaces, consider avoiding steep slopes or sticking to wind-sheltered terrain. Light snow and increasing winds could build some new slabs at upper elevations by the end of the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Look and feel for signs of drifting such as stiff surfaces, pillowed snow, cornices, and sculpted features. Steer around obviously loaded portions of a slope. You can also use small test slopes and snowpack tests to determine if the surface snow could slide easily or break as a slab.

    If you venture into upper elevations, be ready to assess the wind slab hazard with your team, as it could change through the day. Westerly winds will increase on Tuesday afternoon. The question is whether there is enough soft snow available to form fresh slabs. We expect some light snow overnight and during the day, though it may not enough to create a wind slab problem on its own. You may still be able to trigger avalanches in slabs that drifted on Saturday with east winds. Easterly wind can have localized effects around Stevens Pass. Typically, the valleys immediate to highway 2 funnel the wind while other areas may stay sheltered. 

    (12/3/2022)

    Winds increased Saturday afternoon, producing plumes of snow flagging on Mt Lichtenberg.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Observers report surface hoar forming on a variety of slopes. Sun on Saturday formed thin crusts on steep south aspects. It's still early season and the snowpack may be hiding shallowly buried hazards of rocks and stumps.

Layers of weak snow and slick crusts were buried by a series of storms in mid to late November. Some observers reported finding weak, faceted grains near the ground on steep northerly aspects. Elsewhere, observers found the layer as stronger snow or melt forms. Older weak layers generally haven't been a problem for avalanches in this zone as much as in the East Central zone. Future storms could be enough to activate the weak layers to produce surprising avalanches. Because of the persistent nature of faceted grains, we will continue to closely monitor this as more and more snow piles up on it. 

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