Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Winds may create shallow, reactive slabs on open slopes near and above treeline. Look for signs of wind drifting and shooting cracks. Travel defensively in steep areas with wind texture, and check to see how the snow reacts by testing small slopes before entering larger ones. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Look out for shallow, but reactive wind slabs on higher elevation, open slopes and right near ridgelines. These may become slightly thicker and increase in coverage on Thursday as the winds ramp up. Look for wind sculpting textures, and feel for stiffer snow as you gain elevation. Look for signs of wind drifting snow such as small plumes and snow bouncing off the snow surface. 

    Check to see how reactive wind slabs are, using small test slopes before committing to larger terrain. Look for cracking and check how the recent snow has bonded. It may be a good idea to travel defensively on higher elevation, steep slopes in case you get a small slab to release. Consider the consequences of small slides, even if this type of instability may be 'manageable' in some cases. 

    (2/16/2022) Isolated wind drifts would release easily under a skiers weight. East at 5,300ft Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Observers found about 4" of newer snow over a recent crust layer on Wednesday. The new snow greatly improved travel conditions for skis, softening the surfaces substantially. Even still, there is less snow at lower elevations, and keep an eye out for frozen rollerballs and old debris piles as you travel. I saw what looked like heavily wind textured snow on Jim Hill, and shallow and isolated windslabs were reactive right near ridgelines. The sun created small rollerballs and moistened snow surfaces on southerly aspects during the daytime. A bump in winds and a few inches of new snow may add to wind slabs or create new ones on Thursday. If you get out have a look at the recently buried crust, especially on northerly aspects and above 5,000ft. I found some faceted snow within a brittle crust on a NW aspect at 5,300ft on Thursday. This layer is worth tracking, as we may receive a more substantial storm for Saturday night/Sunday.

The snowpack is relatively shallow for this time of year, so be careful traveling near and through large fields of talus - you could pop through deep holes unexpectedly. Creeks have opened up at lower elevations and may be challenging to cross over. Further east in the zone, in the trees, and at lower elevations you may encounter firm surfaces. Warm temperatures in early February drove multiple rounds of wet avalanches. NWAC forecasters observed a D2 wet loose avalanche that ran 1000ft on a SSE aspect of Lichtenberg Mtn on February 12th (see photos). Some of the larger slides that are visible in the mountains likely occurred with a rain event on February 9th. Sun-exposed southeast through southwest slopes have seen a significant transition to melt forms in the upper snowpack. What was the late January weak layer is now a mass of stout melt forms. The weak layer can still be found on some northerly and shaded slopes, though avalanches on it are unlikely. Some recent profile locations have revealed that the layer is well-rounded and hard. However, the weak layer characteristics previously varied significantly throughout the terrain.  While the layer never produced an avalanche cycle in this zone, it was the source of collapsing and signs of instability.  Observers reported sudden test results as recently as Feb 8th. Natural slab avalanches were reported over the weekend on this layer in both East North and West North zones, where it's been more problematic.

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