Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Expect dangerous conditions at upper elevations after a week-long storm and avalanche cycle. Avalanches could be large and deep. Look for signs of instability, choose conservative terrain, and use caution on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Steer around open slopes 35 degrees and steeper until the snowpack has a chance to adjust. Pay attention to signs of lingering instabilities like cracks shooting through the snow or recent avalanches. Avalanches triggered in the recent snow could step down to deeper storm interfaces. There's still a lot of uncertainty at upper elevations. The safest course is to stay off of slopes steeper than 35 degrees above treeline for another day. As you travel, take a look at which layers are failing and consider the consequences of even small pieces of steep terrain. As you ascend in elevation or travel into wind affected terrain, remember slabs will be more cohesive, and potentially deeper and more destructive. 

    (1/2/2021) 200ft wide avalanche on a SW aspect of Round Mountain in the Hwy 2 Corridor.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Watch for small wet avalanches on steep, sunny slopes near and below treeline. There may be enough sun to warm sun-exposed southeast through southwest aspects. Watch for surfaces becoming moist, and roller-balls, and tree-bombs as signs of warming. If you see this, move off of slopes steeper than 35 degrees before they become wet and weak. Watch for natural wet loose avalanches coming from overhead rocky terrain.

    (1/6/2021) A few loose avalanches occurred on sunny SE slopes of Lichtenberg Mtn on Jan 6th. On the right side of the photo, the point releases may have stepped into deeper layers triggering a larger (D2) slab avalanche. Photo: Dan Veenhuizen

Avalanche Discussion

We’re more than 8 days into a prolonged storm cycle at Stevens Pass. Snow continues to pile up at all elevations. As the storm totals grow so does our uncertainty with recent crust layers and upper elevation terrain. Any avalanche has the potential to entrain additional snow, grow larger and become destructive. On the night of the 2nd into the 3rd there was an avalanche cycle that produced some large (D2) avalanches in the zone, some were over 2ft deep. On Monday, Josh Hirshberg found minimal slab structure below treeline, but some cracking at 5,300ft on a SW aspect in very steep terrain. He also observed recent D2 wet debris at 3,900ft that came from higher up. On Sunday, avalanche professionals observed a large (D2) avalanche off a southeast aspect in Moonlight, just east of the pass proper. 

Deep snow immersion is real out there. Be vigilant around tree wells, and stay close to your partner while traveling through the trees. 

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources. Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.

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