Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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 still be able to trigger avalanches at upper elevation slopes where the wind has recently drifted slabs of snow. Watch out for avalanches breaking easily on a soft, weak layer under the recent snow on shaded on northerly slopes at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Use caution on leeward sides of ridges and terrain features. Watch for triggering avalanches where the wind drifted slabs of snow on Tuesday. Look and feel in the snow for clues such as stiffer, deeper drifts, or sculpted surfaces. Steer around convex roll-overs and slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Give the new snow and wind drifted areas time to heal and travel on less steep and more supported slopes. 

    (3/15/2022) An example of a wind slab avalanche from Washington Pass. Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

Observers reported that the new snow was bonding well on Wednesday. One party reported cracking on the NW face of Tye Peak near treeline. Stevens Pass received nearly a foot of new snow above 5,000ft on Tuesday. Avalanches were easy to trigger on Tuesday. Observers reporting triggering storm slabs, wind slabs, and loose wet avalanches. Rain and wet snow fell at lower elevations.

We've been tracking a layer of faceted grains just above a crust from early March. This layer has produced surprising persistent slab avalanches elsewhere, especially in the Wes South zone. This is a good time to choose lower angle terrain and keep an eye out for weak, sugary snow over a thicker crust. While we haven't received reports of this layer being a problem at Stevens Pass, we suspected it could be an issue above 5,500ft on NW-NE aspects. 

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