Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

A wet and potent storm will bring very dangerous conditions starting Saturday night into Sunday. We expect large wet slab avalanches to occur naturally, and some could run from upper elevations to valley bottoms. This is a good day to stay inside, stay out of the mountains, or at the least avoid avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Travel in avalanche terrain is not advised. If you decide to brave the rain, make sure to stay well away from avalanche paths. Don't stop or linger in runouts where avalanches could come down from above. Wet slabs could be very large and destructive and could start in terrain well-above where you can see.

    You'll see many smaller wet avalanches that run in surface layers. Once enough rainwater reaches the weak layer, wet slab avalanches will create much more dangerous conditions. The facets of the January Drought Layer layer are 2-3 feet below the surface and will be very weak once they get wet.

    (2/4/2024)

    An example of a very large wet avalanche, D3, on Cowboy Mtn occurred last season.

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

Expect a massive spike in avalanche danger Saturday night through Sunday. We anticipate a widespread cycle of natural avalanches by Sunday. While the snow at the January Drought Layer has been rounding, it's still weak enough to be a problem once it gets wet. These are the perfect conditions for a wet slab avalanche cycle. While rain will fall up to most summits, there is some terrain in the zone (above 6,500ft) that will receive mostly snow. Keep this in mind whenever you venture to those high peaks in the future. 

 

 

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