Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You may be able to trigger slab avalanches in the new snow at upper elevations and wet avalanches on steep, low to mid-elevation slopes. Watch for recent avalanches, cracking in the surface snow, rollerballs, and rain on previously dry snow as indicators. Give yourself options to move to lower-angle terrain if you see these signs of instability. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Watch for triggering slab avalanches in the new snow. At upper elevations, you may find up to 6 inches of new snow with deeper drifts on leeward slopes. Use caution on around steep convexed rollovers, unsupported slopes, and other trigger points. Pay attention to subtle changes in the snow, particularly where it is more cohesive or poorly bonded to the old snow. Generally, we anticipate a decent bond at the new/old interface. An exception could be on northerly aspects and above treeline where you may find a thin weak layer over a slick crust. 

    (4/1/2023)

    A small (D1)soft slab on a test slope - Lake Valhalla, NE, 5300’.

    Photo: Public Obs

  • Loose Wet

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

    Expect wet avalanches primarily below treeline on shaded northerly aspects and on steep sunny, slopes if skies clear in the afternoon. On northerly aspects, they could gouge into older snow. There's uncertainty whether these avalanches will be significant enough to be of any danger. Pay attention to how much the surface snow is moistening and how easily it slides on test slopes. Be ready to move to lower-angle slopes, if you find wet snow that slides easily enough to produce sizeable avalanches. 

    (4/4/2023)

    Natural wet avalanches, up to D1.5, occurred on steep, sunny slopes on 4/4. Lichtenberg Mtn, SE.

    Photo: John Meriwether

Avalanche Discussion

Expect the avalanche danger to be most elevated Thursday night into Friday morning and then taper off through the day. An exception could be a small round of wet avalanches in the afternoon, if skies clear enough. While we're now well into April, the avalanche conditions and snowpack are closer to that which we typically see in mid to late winter. Much of the snowpack is nowhere near transitioning to typical spring melt-freeze conditions.

On Thursday, Matt Primomo found an inch of new snow and generally safe conditions outside of Stevens Pass Resort. The storm was just beginning to ramp up as he left in the late afternoon. On Tuesday and Wednesday, a round of natural wet avalanches (up to D1.5) occurred on steep southerly slopes. Last weekend, observations focused on loose dry avalanches and wind-affected slopes at upper elevations. Observers on Jim Hill found buried surface hour about 1 foot below the surface at the 3/31 interface. On Saturday, there was a round of small avalanches in storm snow and on leeward, wind-loaded slopes. Observers reported finding wide but small natural avalanches in the backcountry adjacent to Stevens Pass Resort and were able to trigger small wind slabs. Westerly winds drifted the 7" of snow that fell on the 31st. Now, you may find up to 1 ft of recent snow over a stout crust from the 31st. 

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