Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

New snow and wind may create shallow windslabs on higher elevation slopes on Tuesday. Use caution especially on shaded slopes where weaker snow could make for more reactive slabs. Steer around steep slopes if you find shooting cracks or thicker drifts near exposed features.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Moderate NW winds may drift low-density snow into shallow wind slabs as it falls. Slabs should remain soft and shallow during the day, and will probably be limited in extent to steep slopes right off ridgelines at higher elevations. New snow is falling on weaker surfaces, especially on northerly aspects, so here slabs may be touchy. Look for active wind transport and wind textured surfaces to clue you in. Steer around very steep slopes that appear to be loading, or if you find deeper drifts or shooting cracks. 

    If you find more than 6" of new snow, expect you could trigger small loose 'sluffs' on very steep slopes. These shouldn't pose much danger unless you're in higher consequence terrain, but travel accordingly. 

    Example shooting cracks off a ridgeline. Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

A weak cold front should give a light refresher for the pass. NW winds were moderate and may have drifted old snow into very shallow slabs on Monday. On Sunday, an observer on Jim Hill found north slopes to sluff easily. The dry snow on high, shaded slopes is likely becoming weaker and faceted. The new snow on Tuesday will cover up anywhere from 2-6" of older, 'recycled powder' on higher, shaded slopes. Above 6,000ft the snow may lack a rain crust from last weeks big storm, and may be quite a bit deeper. At lower elevations and southerly aspects, expect variable travel conditions with crusts just beneath the new snow on most slopes but sheltered northerlies. 

There was a widespread, natural avalanche cycle in most of the Cascades on February 28th, while the area received heavy snow, followed by heavy rain. Stevens Pass picked up nearly 8" of water equivalent February 26-March 1. The first 3" of water brought 28" of snow accumulation into the morning of the 28th. The rest fell as rain at 4,000ft but more snow may have accumulated above 6,000ft. Rain fell up to at least 6,500ft, but maybe not much higher. The avalanche cycle in the Stevens Pass zone included multiple slides at size D2.5-3, and many in the smaller range. You'll find plenty of old avalanche debris to steer around beneath steep slopes. Check out the avalanche database for more details on some of these.

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