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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Highlights

You can trigger avalanches in the freshly drifted snow. Prepare for very cold temperatures and strong and gusty easterly wind that will form new slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Consider the consequences of larger avalanches that could break widely across terrain features.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Watch for actively blowing snow and firm surfaces as indicators of the danger. These along with cracks shooting through the snow are all signs to use caution and consider avoiding slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Steer around convex features and drifted pillows.

    Expect slopes that are exposed to these valley winds, like Moonlight bowl or the Henry Creek clear cuts, to build fresh wind slabs. Locations that are further removed from the Highway 2 corridor, such as Lanham Lake or the head of Mill Creek will likely stay sheltered. While large avalanches on older weak layers remain unlikely, they may not be impossible. Keep in mind that there are still widespread weak layers capable of producing surprisingly large avalanches. 

    (1/18/2025)

    An example from earlier this season of a small chunk of older wind slab, triggered by a skier. Jim Hill, NNE, 6,350ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

For Thursday, expect morerate east wind with strong gusts and light snow. In this Stevens Pass zone, east wind events are more complex than their westerly counterparts. Unique wind-loading patterns form as the wind funnels through the passes and the major drainages. As mentioned above, certain terrain features are more exposed (or sheltered) to east winds in ways that are different than westerly winds.

With another day of very cold temperatures, make sure to pack extra warm layers and be proactive to prevent cold-weather injuries. Consider how a simple issue, like equipment failure, could become dangerous if you have to spend an unplanned night in the mountains.

Under the newly forming wind slabs, the weak facets and surface hoar associated with the January Drought Layer (JDL) are still widespread on northerly aspects. With this loading, and more likely with coming storms, we could see persistent slab avalanche conditions become active. Stick to an "assessment mindset," step into new terrain slowly,  and assess the snowpack for strong over weak layering before committing to steep terrain. Choose lower angle slopes if you find a stiffer slab over weak, surgery snow or experience collapsing/cracking. 

Cold, mostly dry conditions in mid-February formed weak snow at the current snow surface. If/when we get more significant snowfal, this future new/old interface may be our first layer of concern. The Stevens Pass Zone picked up 2-3ft in the first week of February, burying the JDL. Following the initial storm, there were numerous reports of whumpfing collapses and some shooting cracks, but no reports of associated avalanches in this zone. In zones to the south and west, there were numerous reported persistent slab avalanches on the layer. Sunny days produced small wet and dry loose avalanches and formed a melt-freeze crust on southerly slopes. We're monitoring theJDL, as it's still weak and close enough to the surface to be a problematic weak layer with big enough future storms. 

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