Stevens Pass

With generally safe conditions on Saturday, there are a few things you can be aware of, especially at upper elevations. If you find more than 4" of new snow or winds forming drifts big enough to be consequential, you may be in an area of heightened avalanche danger. Expect avalanche danger to increase quickly as the weekend progresses.

Conditions have shifted from spring-like to incoming winter weather. Saturday will be a transition day. Westerly winds will reach speeds typically strong enough to transport snow, but there isn't enough dry snow available to build consequential slabs.  Pay attention to the amount of snowfall. If the storm arrives quicker than anticipated, you may see more dangerous conditions. 

Observers reported natural wet, loose avalanches on steep, sunny slopes on Thursday and Friday. One notable avalanche on Lichtenberg Mountain was large (sized D2). See the photo below. In terrain adjacent to Stevens Pass Resort, forecasters found 10" of moist snow above the early February crust, and they were able to trigger roller balls and small wet avalanches easily.

A weak snowpack structure exists. On shaded slopes above 5,000ft, you can find a layer of faceted snow resting on the early February crust, about 1 1/2 feet below the surface. Forecasters found this structure on Jim Hill on the 19th. See the profile and images of the weak grains below. In the East Central zone, backcountry travelers have triggered a number of avalanches just above the crust, with the most recent being on the 22nd. A coming storm could bring snow and stress to cause avalanches on this weak layer above the crust.

 If you get out, please help us by submitting an observation.