Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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 small avalanches at upper elevations where the wind has drifted recent snow.  Stormy weather overnight will give way to clearing and cool temperatures on Saturday. Snow cover is still shallow; watch for hitting shallowly buried rocks and logs.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    If you find signs of instability like cracks shooting through the snow or wind drifts that break easily with the weight of a person, stay off of leeward slopes over 35 degrees. Look for visual clues like sharp wind drifts and stiffer snow surfaces. Steer around fresh drifts and stick to lower-angle or wind-sheltered slopes. 

    On Friday, a warm and windy storm brought a few inches of snow with strong westerly winds. Snow and wind will taper off by Saturday morning. Expect enough new snow and wind transport for fresh wind slabs on leeward slopes, especially on north through east through south aspects.  Aside from due south aspects, you may find reactive conditions, as new snow may be resting on a layer of surface hoar or weak snow surrounding thin crusts.

    (12/22/2023)

    New snow accumulation of 2cm was easily transported at 5,500ft near the top of the Double Diamond lift. Stevens Pass Resort, 5,500ft

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Clouds should break by with weak, filtered sun by afternoon. Some steep south slopes may warm slightly, but wet avalanches shouldn't be a significant hazard.  Although travel conditions have improved a bit, you can still find breakable crust under the surface. Coverage is still thin in many places, and there are plenty of rocks and bushes to contend with. Beware of exposed creeks, rocks, and stumps.

Under the 2-4" of new snow that fell on Friday is a mix of crusts, weak facets, and surface hoar. The storm started off warm with some version of rain or liquid precipitation up to about 5,000ft. It's likely that whatever was on the surface at that elevation on Friday morning (surface hoar in some places) got wet and transformed into melt forms. On steeper due south slopes, the new snow fell on a stout crust that's the combination of rain and sun events from the past 1-2 weeks. Elsewhere, the 3-6 inches of snow below the 12/22 interface is a series of thin, brittle crusts and weak, faceted layers.

Stevens Pass Ski Area is open. Check uphill policies HERE. You can contribute to the forecast! Let us know what you found by submitting an observation HERE. 

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