Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You could trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted snow, most likely on steep slopes below ridgelines at upper elevations. Avalanches will likely be small, but look for cracking in stiff-textured surfaces as a cue to step back from extreme terrain. A small slide could still carry you into rocks, trees, or over cliffs. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Elevations above 5000ft picked up a few inches of new snow, and a little more is on the way for Monday.  Winds won't be strong, but they could still drift snow along ridgelines at upper elevations. Wind slabs are most likely to be found at the base of cliffs or on the lee side of ridgelines, particularly in steep, rocky, or confined alpine terrain. 

    We don't expect avalanches to be large, but even small avalanches can carry high consequences in the wrong terrain. Stiff textured surfaces, drifts, and cornice formations are good indicators of wind-loaded slopes. If you observe shooting cracks or stiff surface snow slides easily in quick hand pits, steer around steep slopes and consider choosing more conservative terrain. 

    (12/15/2024)

    Example photo: Cracking and a small avalanche in wind-textured snow, similar to what you might see on Sunday. 

    Photo: Ryan Minton

Avalanche Discussion

It's nice to see the trees decked in snow again, even if it's only at higher elevations. Stevens Pass picked up around 0.6" of snow water equivalent overnight on Saturday. Temperatures were slow to cool, so most of the precipitation fell as rain. But, thankfully, elevations above 5000ft had at least a few inches of snow on Sunday morning. Between 5000 and 5300ft, a breakable surface crust had already formed. Above that, the few inches of snow were soft and dry. We're not certain how much new snow exists at upper elevations, but don't expect it to be more than 5-6". Cooler temperatures and a couple more inches of snow on Monday should continue to improve conditions ever so slightly. 

If you're finding more than around 6" of snow at upper elevations, expect avalanches in wind-loaded terrain to be larger. 

Professionals working near Lichtenberg and Stevens Pass on Sunday found that travel hazards likely outweighed avalanche hazards. Open creeks, bare ground, breakable crusts, and frozen chunder in forested areas are all things you might have to contend with to get into the more pleasant conditions above about 5500ft. After prolonged sunny, warm days, the upper snowpack on south aspects remains wet beneath surface crusts. On northerly aspects, the snowpack is slightly less soggy, but still moist with multiple crusts in the upper snowpack. We have minimal avalanche concerns for layers below this most recent interface (2/7 crust) moving forward. 

Regions covered