Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

We've got one last day of warm temperatures to keep thinking about wet snow avalanche problems. If you're sinking several inches into wet, sloppy snow stay off steep slopes. Although unlikely, any saggy cornices or other spring shed style avalanches could fail and produce a large avalanche, so travel quickly under large rock slabs with snow perched on top, or slopes with overhead cornices. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Observers reported wet snow and a minimal freeze Sunday night into Monday, and we can expect similar conditions on Tuesday. No new wet loose avalanches were reported, but it's tough to figure out exactly when and where they'll happen during one of these prolonged warming cycles. 

    If you see any natural avalanche activity, avoid similar steep slopes and the terrain beneath them. More likely, in areas where you encounter sloppy wet snow that you're sinking several inches into is where you can probably trigger a wet avalanche so just stay off steep slopes in areas like this. 

    Other wet snow problems related to a spring warmup have an unlikely chance of occuring on Tuesday as well. This is a time to avoid travel beneath or moving very quickly around saggy cornices and gaping glide cracks, or other patches of wet snow on steep rock faces. Avalanches in any of these circumsances may entrain a lot of snow and grow large. 

Avalanche Discussion

Preliminary Report: NWAC is saddened to report an avalanche fatality as a result of a cornice fall on fatality as a result of a cornice fall on Mount St. Helens. On Friday, March 29, 2024, a snowboarder summited the peak. While standing near the top, he triggered a cornice and fell into the crater triggering a large slab avalanche on the slope below. NWAC is working with the Skamania Co Sheriff's officeand SAR to compile a report. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community.  

Discussion:

Although unlikely, if you find any steep, north-facing dry pockets of snow at upper elevations there's a very slim chance you could trigger a small wind slab avalanche in that area. Even if avalanches are small, consider the additional hazard if one knocked you off your feet in high-consequence terrain, sending you off a cliff or into trees, rocks, or a gully. 

Temperatures will plummet Tuesday night and it'll be downright chilly on Wednesday. We'll get a couple inches of snow to dampen what we expect to be a very firm crust that will form on the surface as temperatures drop. 

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