Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Many slopes could harbor reactive wind slabs on Thursday. It'll be possible to trigger shallow soft slabs in the new snow, and harder slabs 1.5ft deep on faceted grains over a stout crust. Use lower angle and well supported slopes during and after periods of active drifting. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    We should pick up a few inches of new snow in the zone, but the wind is the bigger story. The new snow will drift easily, but theres also plenty of soft, dry snow available to transport as it is. Snow surfaces consist of sharp, faceted grains, and many slopes hold a weak to moderately strong breakable crust. This is a classic setup for touchy wind slabs as easterly winds pick up. If you find fresh drifts that create shooting cracks when provoked, steer around pillows and drifts on steep slopes. 

    Look for wind rippled and stiffer snow surfaces to help pinpoint where you could trigger avalanches. Use small, inconsequential test slopes to check how easily the snow slides. You can stick to slopes less than 30 degrees or look for wind-sheltered terrain to avoid this problem.

    Slides could be just a few inches deep, or they could break 1.5ft down on the stout crust from Early February (see photo).

    (2/13/2024)

    Skiers triggered a slab avalanche (D1.5) at upper elevations on 2/13.  Jim Hill, NE, 6,500ft

Avalanche Discussion

Easterly winds should crank through the pass overnight and on Thursday. Unfortunately we may see more wind than snow this time around. Existing surfaces consist of surface hoar and faceted grains resting over brittle to breakable crusts on most aspects. 1-1.5ft down you can find a thin layer of small sugary facets above the stout crust from early February. Near crust faceting was occuring during the day while I was out on Wednesday, so this interface is getting weaker, unfortunately. On Tuesday, a skier triggered a slide 1.5ft deep  on this crust on a NE aspect at 6,500ft on Jim Hill. Other observations from this zone and the neighboring East Central and East North zones show this layer to be weak as well. 

If you make it out, please share what you found with an observation.

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