Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Recent snow and shifting winds are maintaining avalanche danger.  You can trigger avalanches at middle and upper elevations where gusty winds drift fresh slabs of snow. In wind-sheltered terrain, you may be able to trigger small loose avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Use caution on leeward slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Look for blowing snow from east winds in the morning. Some areas may be easy to identify with surface texture or sculpted features. If you observe shooting cracks in drifted snow, stay off of steeper, consequential slopes. Cornices may be fragile from recent growth and could break under the weight of a person.

    East winds often favor specific features, such as Tye Peak, Lichtenberg Mountain, and the Moonlight, area where the wind gets channeled and accelerated near the Highway 2 corridor and adjacent drainages. Pay attention to how the wind may change direction throughout the day and at different elevations.

  • Loose Dry

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

    New has added up and may sluff easily on steep slopes. Loose avalanches could be split up into two types on Sunday- those that involve cold snow on steep shaded slopes, and those that involve snow that is warming up on slopes that receive the sun's energy. In either case, avoid slopes with terrain traps like trees, gullies, or rocks. Consequences of small slides. For slopes that warm up, instability may rise by afternoon with daytime warming. These slides may push you around more easily with heavier snow.

     

    (4/10/2022)

    A small loose avalanche started near a tree on the southwest aspect of Lichtenberg Mountain on April 10.

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

About 4" of snow accumulated during the day on Sunday with about 1 foot since Saturday morning. You can find close to 2 feet of recent snow over the most recent crust, buried on April 8th.  Recent snow amounts will vary as you move east and west of the Cascade crest as well as higher in the mountains. On Sunday, observers reported small loose avalanches, especially on sun-exposed slopes, when the sun made brief appearances. One larger slab avalanche was reported on a steep rock slab on a southeast aspect around 5,100ft on Lichtenberg Mtn. If you're in the mountains, submit an observation and let us know what you see.

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