Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Alarm bells might not be going off when you look at the danger triangle above this text, but wind-drifted snow at upper elevations is where people have triggered avalanches throughout the Cascades, including Stevens Pass, in the last few days. To avoid the same fate for yourself, steer around wind-drifted snow, especially at upper elevations where most of these avalanches have been occurring.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    It's not cut and dry: you aren't going to trigger an avalanche on every steep, wind-loaded slope. Wind slabs are getting more stubborn, but given the recent trend, it's still a good idea to just steer clear of wind-drifted slopes over 35°, predominantly at upper elevations but possibly at mid-elevations as well. 

    A lot of people have been getting surprised by triggering avalanches, and in most cases, they've recognized that they're in wind-drifted terrain. Clues may not be obvious- you might not see red flags like shooting cracks. The slabs might be hidden and subtle. You might be able to get away with travel on one slope, but not the one next door. This isn't the time to push your luck. 

    Wind is continuing on Tuesday, and we might pick up an inch of snow. If more snow falls than forecasted, danger may be higher. The wind direction is shifting subtly, to SW, so there may be low density snow that this new wind direction picks up and transports into freshly formed slabs, and they could be more reactive. Many of the older slabs are probably becoming more stubborn. Most of the reported avalanches are a few days old. But conditions haven't changed much since then, and we still believe it's possible you could trigger an avalanche on those higher-elevation wind-loaded slopes.

    (2/10/2024)

    Example photo: Wind textured surfaces like this one are ideally avoided, if the slope is steep enough to slide. Big Chiwaukum.

    Photo: Biz Petersen

Avalanche Discussion

On Monday, a forecaster made it out to Jim Hill and found stubborn wind slabs at upper elevations. He also found weaknesses in locations in the snowpack that are being identified all over the Cascades: above the Early February Crust (EFC), about 1 1/2 ft deep, and also midway down through the snowpack above the EFC, about a foot deep. Pit tests yielded no results above the EFC, and only tilt tests identified the other weak layer midway down. However, ski cuts on steep slopes caused cracking down to the EFC on Jim Hill (see photo). We may just need more of a slab before we start seeing more avalanches on either of these weak layers. Or, we may already have a slab on upper elevation wind loaded slopes, another reason to avoid these areas. 

Many observers have reported variable and highly wind-affected snow conditions, while there are still sheltered areas where light, dry snow exists. Your main concern on sheltered steep slopes is small, dry loose avalanches. Travel carefully to avoid unexpected encounters with unfavorable surfaces like crusts and holes, especially at mid and lower elevations.   If you get out, please help us by submitting an observation.

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