Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The warmest temperatures of the week will keep wet avalanches a concern through Sunday. The avalanche danger will be Low in the morning and increase as the sun melts snow surfaces. Time your day to be off of steep slopes before they become wet, weak, and punchy.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Avalanches will be unlikely first thing in the morning when snow surfaces will be frozen. You'll be able to trigger wet avalanches more easily on steep sunny slopes as the day warms and the sun melts the snow. Avalanches could be big enough to bury you near and above treeline. Make quick observations throughout the day to feel how wet and weak the snow is.  You can use a pole, shovel, your boots, or your hands.  If you sink into the snow up to the top of your boots in wet snow, it's time to move to lower-angled or more frozen slopes.  Roller balls and recent wet avalanches are signs that you could trigger a slide. Watch for punching into wet, weak areas near rocks and at the base of cliffs. Don't linger near or under cornices, as they could fall with melting from the sun. Even small wet avalanches could be dangerous in very steep terrain or around rocks and cliffs. 

    (2/11/2022) A large (D2.5) wet avalanche likely ran on Feb 9th near Lake Josephine. Nasikelt Pk (pt 5863), S, 5,600ft Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

Sunday will be the warmest day this week after a month of warm, dry weather. The most significant wet avalanches occurred around February 9th with light rain. Since then, wet avalanches have sporadically occurred on sunny slopes as the days have warmed. There's still snow available for wet avalanches, though we don't expect a widespread cycle of activity. 

The late January weak layer can still be found on northerly and shaded slopes, though avalanches on it are unlikely. Observers reported sudden test results as recently as Feb 8th. While the layer never produced an avalanche cycle in this zone, it was the source of collapsing and signs of instability.  Natural slab avalanches have recently been reported on this layer in both East North and West North zones, where it's been more problematic. If you're on the northern or eastern boundaries of the zone, you may want to dig to investigate this layer. 

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