Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Lots of recent snow and rain have created difficult travel conditions. You may still be able to trigger avalanches on Thursday and some of them could be large at upper elevations. A chance for wet avalanche remains as the day warms.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    You may be able to trigger avalanches in recent snow at the highest elevations. Use caution on slopes 35 degrees and steeper, especially on leeward sides of ridges. Minimize the time that you're in and under large avalanche paths and runouts. Recently drifted slabs could approach 5-6ft deep at upper elevations and could break at upper storm interfaces. Widespread large to very large avalanches occurred on Monday in the storm snow. While natural activity has tapered off, the storm layers are still bonding. We know very little about how the recent storm impacted the snowpack above treeline. Be prepared to make your own assessments.

    (3/1/2022)

    A slab avalanche in the Stormie's area near Skyline lake. E, 4,600ft

    Photo: Matt Primomo

  • Loose Wet

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

    You may be able to trigger loose wet avalanches on steeper slopes if surfaces soften during the day. Rollerballs and wet, unsupportive snow are indicators that you could trigger wet avalanches. Wet avalanches could break on recent storm layers. Expect snow surfaces to freeze overnight, though it may only be a superficial freeze.

    (3/1/2022)

    A very large (D2.5) natural wet avalanche occurred at Stevens Pass Resort while the mountain was closed on the 28th or that night. This ran from Cowboy Ridge onto a groomed run below.  SPMR patrol reported similar natural avalanches widespread throughout much of their terrain.

    Photo: John Meriwether

Avalanche Discussion

Heavy snow, rain, and difficult travel have limited access and information. Skies cleared enough on Tuesday to see a number of larger avalanches including- the Wellington Path on Windy Mtn (D3), Lichtenberg Mtn, SE (D3.5), the Swath on the north end of the Chiwaukum range (D2.5), and a sizable D2 in the Stormie's area near Skyline Lake. Check out the avalanche database for more info. WSDOT forecasters and Stevens Pass Patrol reported a widespread natural cycle of large to very large avalanches (up to D2.5) on Monday. They reported both slab and wet loose avalanches. Also on Monday, WSDOT avalanche workers triggered a very large (D3) avalanche with explosives in the Old Faithful path. Since Feb 26th the Schmidt Haus weather station at Stevens Pass recorded almost 8" of water equivalent. The first 3" of water brought 28" of snow accumulation into the morning of the 28th. The rest of the precipitation has mostly fallen as rain at 4,000ft but more snow may have accumulated above 6,000ft. 

The Feb 26th interface lies beneath the recent storm snow. On many slopes, near-surface facets and surface hoar likely stayed intact and got buried. Beneath this, there are a number of crusts and potential weaker layers buried in February. The Valentines Crust serves as a prominent marker, as it's fairly thick in most places. Observers noted very reactive conditions on Sunday, with storm slabs breaking on the Feb 26th interface. Observers reported numerous triggered slab avalanches including a close call with a rider buried to their neck on a NW aspect near Skyline. Some avalanches on south-facing slopes even triggered other slides nearby (sympathetic).

Regions covered