Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

You can trigger avalanches where you find shallow drifts of new snow at middle and upper elevations. Steer around freshly drifted pillows of snow just below ridges. Expect periods of moderate snow and winds Thursday night with snowfall slowing through the day on Friday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Watch for triggering small slab avalanches in freshly drifted snow on leeward sides of ridges. Steer around drifts and wind-loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees. You can use a pole to feel for stiffer, wind-transported snow and deeper drifts.  You may find 6" of recent snow at upper elevations and drifted slabs up to 1 foot deep.

    Be prepared to assess how much new snow you find and look for drifting in wind-exposed terrain. There's a lot of uncertainty about how much snow will fall Thursday night into Friday. You may find that conditions change quickly with deeper snow at higher elevations. 

    (12/7/2023)

    A shallow crown (20cm) from a small triggered wind slab avalanche in the East North zone.  Spire Gulley, NE, 7,300ft

Avalanche Discussion

After this week's deluge of rain, temperatures cooled Wednesday. As the rain-soaked snow is slowly freezing, you may still find areas of slush and pooled water near the ground. There's no longer a risk of wet avalanches.  Above the 12/6 interface, you can expect shallow snow accumulations that gradually increase as you gain elevation.

Numerous wet avalanches ran on December 4- 6th as rain soaked the feet of recently fallen snow.  Observers have reported avalanches up to size D2, with some running to the ground and entraining dirt. We still haven't gotten a great tally of these slides.

From  11/30-12/6, the Schmidt Haus weather station recorded nearly 8.5" of water equivalent; over half of that fell as rain starting on the 3rd. On December 2-3rd, observers found very reactive avalanche conditions. Most slides ran on the November 30th interface, which included surface hoar and/or facets over a slick crust. Observers reported; many natural soft slabs with wide propagation and widespread shooting cracks and whumphing. Most avalanches were in the D1-1.5 range, with a D2 reported. In classic Cascadian fashion, the recent rain has changed the Nov 30th weak layers over to melt forms.

If you get out, please let us know what you found by submitting an observation.

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