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

You’ll be able to trigger wind slab avalanches in near and above treeline terrain on Sunday. Easterly winds peaked overnight, and new deposits will exist on and around steep rolls, gullies, and rocky outcroppings. You may be able to feel stiffer snow, or possibly see textured or wind-smoothed surfaces, which are snow characteristics to avoid on steep slopes during your outing.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    An increase in wind Saturday evening will leave us with a fresh batch of wind slabs to navigate around on Sunday. Look and feel for signs of drifting such as pillowed snow, cornices, and sculpted features near ridgelines, in gullies, and around rocky outcroppings, especially in exposed alpine terrain. If you see heavy wind drifting, avoid steep features nearby. You can also use small test slopes and snowpack tests to determine if the new snow is cohesive or if it could break as a slab.

    We are still concerned about deeper avalanches that may be triggered as we see more load on a snowpack that was once thin and grew large, weak, faceted crystals. These weak layers are more likely to be found in easterly parts of the zone. Large, steep slopes facing NW-NE above 4700ft are where you are most likely to encounter this problem.  If triggered, the crown could be 3-6ft deep and the resulting avalanche could be quite large. Heed signs of danger such as shooting cracks, loud audible whumphs, and pay attention to signs of recent avalanches as you travel in this relatively young snowpack.

     

     

    (12/3/2022)

    Winds increased substantially Saturday afternoon, identifiable from the snow flagging off Mt Lichtenburg. Pay attention to these signs, as they could indicate changes in snow and increased chances of triggering avalanches as you gain elevation. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

About 4 inches of snow fell Friday night, topping off the past week's 2 feet of low density snow that is slowly settling. With the deep snow in mind, make sure to stay within earshot or visual of partners. Small loose avalanches may also run on very steep slopes, including in below treeline areas. Tree wells and sneaky creeks are open. It's still early season, and the snowpack may be hiding sharks and stumps to get injured by.

Layers of weak snow and slick crusts were buried by a series of storms in mid to late November. Some observations reported finding weak, faceted grains near the ground, while others found the layers as stronger snow or melt forms. It generally has not been a problem for avalanches in this zone (but is in the East Central) since their initial burial. However, because of the persistent nature of faceted grains, we will continue to closely monitor this as more and more snow piles up on it. 

Let us know what you see by submitting an observation!

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