Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Wet avalanches may continue on steep, sun-exposed slopes. While they'll mostly be small, some avalanches at upper elevations could be big enough to bury or kill you. Sun and warm temperatures will melt and weaken recent snow on sunny slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Watch for snow surfaces becoming weak and sliding easily as slopes get prolonged sun.  Be aware of avalanches coming down from steep slopes above you. Use quick informal tests on small test slopes to check how easily the snow slides before committing to larger terrain. Stay away from sunny slopes 40 degrees and steeper containing terrain traps like, rocks, trees, and gullies. Even a small slide in this terrain could be enough to injure or kill you. You can stay safe by choosing lower-angled or colder, more shaded slopes.

     Wet avalanches will mainly be driven by strong sun weakening the recent snow that accumulated by Friday. The majority of wet avalanches will be loose and small, though some could be big enough to bury or kill you in bigger terrain features. You may find areas of weak, wet, and unsupportive snow at low elevations and around trees or rocks. These areas could present a travel hazard of falling into holes and could result in a host of wet avalanches. Some prominent rock slabs still hold snow and could slide with the ongoing warm temperatures. The low likelihood of a glide avalanche could hold serious consequences.

     

    (1/21/2022)

    Wet loose avalanches ran on the 21st on a southerly aspect near the Wellington area at Stevens Pass.

    Photo: Brian Murphy

Avalanche Discussion

On Saturday, observers reported a handful of wet avalanches on steep sunny slopes. A couple of notable slides on the southeast face of Lichtenberg Mtn were big enough to bury a person and may have gouged into older layers of snow.  The sun was out, but clouds and temperature inversions kept snow surfaces from weakening as much as anticipated. Most sunny slopes are capped with a crust. On Friday near Jim Hill, an observe found signs of recent wind drifting and wind slabs avalanche conditions. If you're heading to upper elevations, watch for these older slabs. Also beware of the potential for cornices or glide avalanches to break unexpectedly on sunny slopes.

 This prolonged period of warm temperatures and sun has us worried about the potential for an unexpected avalanche. That said, the upper snowpack has seen significant wetting from multiple rain events and sun in the past 10 days. This combined with the short days and weak January sun is keeping the snowpack from falling apart like it might in March. We still have uncertainty with the warming. We will continue to track stability through this warm period by monitoring how wet the snowpack is getting and how much crusts in the upper snowpack are melting and breaking down. 

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