Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Wind slabs can be found on upper elevation, exposed slopes and may be easy to trigger on the recently buried layers and a slick crust. Loose slides may run fast and far on steep slopes as well. Consider your terrain size and steer around larger features if finding signs of instability like shooting cracks, or if loose snow slides easily.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Loose snow slides could take many forms on Thursday, from dry to moist and even wet. Slides could run fast and far on steep slopes. Check to see how the snow is reacting before jumping right into features that could sweep you down. Move well away from potential runout zones of your partners.  Continue to monitor snow surfaces as the daytime warms up and on slopes receiving direct sunshine. Wet gloppy snow and rollerballs are also good clues to wet looes slides.

    (1/16/2023) Recent dry loose slides viewed from road in Wenatchee Bowl Photo: Matt Primomo

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2

    Winds should continue to buffet upper elevation slopes into the morning, and drift snow in the process. These freshly formed wind slabs may be easy to trigger in certain areas. The distribution of slabs may be patchy, but they could be quite reactive. Check to see how the snow reacts on small test slopes. Look for punchier deeper drifts, cornices, and textured snow surfaces to identify likely slabs.  Steer around steeper slopes if you find instability or thick slabs in large terrain features where getting caught in a slide could be less than ideal. 

    (1/17/2023)

    Example natural wind slab avalanches near the base of cliffs in the North Cascades.

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

About 6" of new snow was reported from higher elevations by the afternoon on Wednesday. Observers reported being able to trigger small loose slides that ran fast and far on steep open slopes. Wind had been drifting snow near ridgetops and creating thicker slabs. General travel conditions have markedly improved with very good powder being reported. With another handful of inches of snow and cooling temperatures overnight, this trend shoul continue. Thursday should bring some sun, so keep that in mind and expect to see it's influence on snow surfaces on southerly aspects. 

On Monday, Brooke Maushund and I went to the Lake Valhalla area. We found a slick and slippery crust beneath about 4" of new snow. We were able to trigger small loose avalanches, both wet and dry on steep test slopes. The last cycle of wet avalanches occurred between the 13th and 16th while it rained to at least 6,000ft in the zone. You could still stumble into large, chunky debris.

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