Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Expect just enough new snow and wind to maintain avalanche danger at upper elevations. You may be able to trigger avalanches where the wind has formed drifts, especially on shaded northerly aspects above 5,500ft. An older weak layer could result in surprising avalanches in the top 2 feet of the snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Light snow accumulations and increasing wind will form thin slabs on older wind drifts, formed on March 15th. Use caution on leeward sides of ridges and terrain features. Look and feel in the snow for clues such as stiffer, deeper drifts, or sculpted surfaces. Steer around convex roll-overs and slopes 35 degrees and steeper where you see evidence of drifting. You can trigger older drifted slabs, up to 2 feet deep, on shaded, northerly aspects above 5,500ft where the slabs rest on weak snow. Quickly dig into the upper layers and look for a soft weak layer, just above a hard cust. If you find this 

    (3/18/2022)

    Cracks shooting through the snow are a warning sign that you could trigger an avalanche. This occurred on a steep slope where the wind drifted slabs on the 15th. Blocks of snow slid on the March 8th facets. 5,920ft, NNW, Jim Hill

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

We've been tracking a layer of faceted grains just above a crust from early March. With coming storms, the layer could produce surprising avalanches. You can find the weak layer 1-2 feet below the surface on NW-NE aspects above 5,500ft.  Elsewhere, especially in the West South and West North zones, this layer has produced very large slab avalanches. On Friday, forecasters on Jim Hill and in the White Pine drainage confirmed the presence of the facets and test results that indicate they could produce slab avalanches. Currently, the weak layer hasn't been stressed with a significant load of new snow. Future storms could be enough to further stress and activate it.

Expect 2-4 inches of new snow to soften surfaces. A dusting of 2-3 inches of snow fell on Friday. Cooler temperatures and clouds have kept the snow surface surprisingly soft on shaded aspects above 4,500ft. On the 14-15th Stevens Pass received nearly a foot of new snow above 5,000ft with rain and wet snow at lower elevations. After an initial cycle of avalanches, the storm snow quickly gained strength. Filtered sun since the 16th triggered a few wet loose avalanches on sunny slopes. 

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