Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Wet avalanche activity will continue in the foot or so of new snow and sunnier skies that we'll get on Wednesday. The wind drifted lighter and possibly dry snow at middle and upper elevations on Tuesday, and it's possible you could trigger an avalanche in thicker wind deposits. Avoid all steep slopes, and steer around lower angle terrain in areas where you see natural avalanche activity.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Widespread small natural wet avalanches were reported Tuesday morning, and as temperatures increased some areas then released large natural avalanches. More sun on Wednesday means you can expect to see similar amounts or possibly more activity.

    East-facing slopes will warm the most in the morning, then southerly midday and west in the afternoon. However, depending on cloud cover and the increasing sun height this time of year, avalanches may surprise you and impact much more of the compass than you might suspect. 

    Avalanches could run shallowly in the top few inches of snow, but they may run deeper, with the possibility of entraining large masses of snow that could take you for a dangerous ride. Most will probably be point releases that fan out, occurring naturally on any steep slopes, although they're more likely to initiate around rocks or trees, and near you if you venture into steeper terrain. At this point we believe most activity will likely remain limited to snow above the Early April Crust, which in some areas is almost 2 feet deep.

    Avoid steep slopes with moist or wet snow, and if you notice any new avalanche activity then avoid low-angle terrain in the runouts of steep slopes as well. Shift your travels to terrain where you are not beneath large overhead hazards. 

    (4/9/2024)

    10 inches of new snow at Stevens Pass Ski Area and warm temperatures caused natural wet avalanche activity Tuesday in closed terrain. Expect more of this activity on Wednesday

    Photo: Stevens Pass Ski Patrol

  • Wind Slabs

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

     It's possible that you could trigger a wind slab avalanche near ridgelines, in gullies, around features, or on steep rollovers where wind tends to deposit snow. Wind was gusting into the 30's or higher on Tuesday, transporting any lower-density snow at mid and upper elevations. Drifts could be 1-2 feet or more in depth.

    Search for visual clues like textured snow or pillowlike features, and feel for firmer snow beneath you. If you're given an obvious clue like a long, shooting crack, it means avoid steep nearby terrain. Some drifts may be moist, but this doesn't mean they can't avalanche. Slabs may be more reactive earlier in the day when they are newer. On the other hand, if they get heavier with warming temperatures that may cause them to be more reactive- it's tough to tell. 

    Avoid wind-loaded slopes greater than 35° on Wednesday. 

     

    Example photo: Wind drifted surfaces near a ridgeline by Rock Mtn. Notice a wind lip in the foreground and wind ripples further back in the photo. Clues like this on Wednesday could show where wind drifting is, and indicates areas to avoid. 

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

We're in the midst of fickle springlike weather with conditions changing constantly. Avalanche activity is unusual, where lines are blurred between wet and dry avalanches, and loose snow or slab avalanches. Despite the sunny skies, maintain elevated levels of caution and don't expect any avalanche activity to fit perfectly into the boxes that we've tried to fit them into. 

As temperatures increase a notch higher on Wednesday, chances of cornice failures or glide cracks releasing increases. This isn't the time to linger beneath either of these features. As days get warmer still, continue to give these features an even wider berth. 

Most snow will likely be wet or moist, and possibly sticky. Upper-elevation shady slopes may have dry snow. Snowlines are rapidly receding and hazardous holes are appearing in the snow at lower and mid elevations. Many low-elevation areas are below threshold, although large avalanches may run from higher elevations down into this elevation band. 

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