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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Mixed clouds and sun will maintain a chance of triggering wet avalanches on sun-exposed slopes. Watch for signs of instability like rollerballs and natural wet avalanches. You may be able to trigger small avalanches in areas of wind-drifted snow at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Expect recent shallow slabs at upper elevations. Older slabs from the weekend may now be difficult to trigger. The most likely locations to trigger a wind slab will be in alpine terrain just below ridges. If you see large pillow-like drifts, shooting cracks, or the snow feels hollow beneath you, stick to lower-angle slopes or steer around these wind-loaded features.

    (1/19/2023)

    An example of a snowboard triggered windslab from earlier this season. Lichtenberg  Mtn, Stevens Pass

    Photo: NWAC Public Obs

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Watch for wet avalanches as the skies clear. These avalanches could be consequential where you find 6 inches or more of soft surface snow that is becoming moist. There may not be enough snow at low elevations for any true hazard. Watch for rollerballs or fresh, wet avalanches as indicators that you could trigger more. You can limit your exposure by moving to more shaded aspects and lower-angled slopes. You may find a thin layer of new snow that has yet to become moist sitting on older, saturated wet grains.

    (4/11/2023)

    Debris from a large natural avalanche above Lake Susan Jane. This likely released as a wet avalanche during the rain event of 4/9 and may have come from an unsupported slope.

    Photo: Public obs

Avalanche Discussion

Between last Thursday and Tuesday, nearly 2.5" of water equivalent fell, with much of it as rain below 4,500ft. On Sunday the 9th, the rain line likely went as high as 6,000ft and kicked off a cycle of mostly wet avalanches. Many were large, and there may have been some avalanches up to D3. Observers reported significant avalanches on Lumiere Ridge, Captain Point, Keyes Pk, and Cowboy Ridge. See images below. Glide cracks opened on a number of slopes with smooth ground or rock slabs. 

As fewer people flock to the mountains this time of year, our data and confidence in our forecast have lowered. Be prepared to make your own assessments as you travel. If you're in the backcountry, let us know what you see by submitting an observation.

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