Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Increasing winds and new snow may quickly form shallow windslabs at upper elevations during the afternoon. Use caution around freshly drifted features near ridgelines. Many snow surfaces will hold a variable surface crust leftover from the pronounced warming event, but some slopes may soften during the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Some new snow and strong westerly winds may create shallow new wind slabs in higher elevation, exposed terrain. With potential for a convergence zone to affect the area by late afternoon, keep abreast of changing conditions during the day. If its snowing hard and blowing, you can bet that wind slabs are forming in alpine terrain.

    Look for active wind transport near ridgelines, and drifted snow. You may be able to identify areas that are drifted with new snow, and others that are blown clear or don't appear thickly drifted. If you observe shooting cracks in drifted snow, then be sure to avoid those areas on steep or consequential slopes. Some cornices may be fragile and could break under the weight of a person, make sure to stay well away from the edge of them.

    Example small wind slab. Photo: Lee Lazzara

Avalanche Discussion

We're headed back into a cooler and snowier regime starting Friday. Most surfaces should have a crust by the time Friday morning rolls around, but if you find wet and punchy snow, you could trigger some wet loose avalanches. If it snows more than an inch or two you could trigger small loose wet slides within the new snow on slopes that warm up during the day. Expect off and on showers, with increasing winds and potential for more sustained snowfall by later in the afternoon. 

Wednesday and Thursday we saw a pronounced warming event, with a number of wet loose avalanches up to D2 observed on the pass. Most surfaces had become moist or wet. Higher elevation, north facing slopes may still hold some settled powder, albeit with variable old wind effect and likely some crust. A recent storm ending on March 5th dropped 2-3ft on Stevens Pass. Storm snow has generally been bonding well with a thicker crust from early April in the zone, but some slab avalanches were triggered and ran on this crust on Tuesday. These were 3ft deep in wind loaded (SE facing) terrain. If you're in the mountains, submit an observation and let us know what you see, as springtime is a dynamic time for snow.

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