Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago.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

Where you find soggy snow, there's a chance you could trigger a wet avalanche on a steep slope- especially when steep southerly faces get intense sunlight. Snow could also break free from wet, rocky features, and the likelihood of cornicefall increases with such warm temperatures. If you find crusts there will probably be minimal avalanche activity. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wet avalanches are still possible if the snow stays soggy. We suspect most natural activity has already occurred, with any remaining avalanches more likely to be human-triggered. If skies clear and we get a freeze Wednesday night, avalanche activity should be mostly limited to steep southerly slopes as they soften in the sun. Keep in mind that cloud cover and overnight freezing may vary across the zone, and light to moderate winds could slow additional surface warming.

    The most likely places to trigger wet avalanches will be upper elevations in steep, open terrain. We have very limited information from higher elevations, where the snowpack transitioned from dry to wet more recently and may be easier to trigger. If you’re wallowing in wet, heavy snow deeper than a couple inches, that’s a good signal to dial back to lower-angle terrain. As the sun heats and softens slopes, consider shifting to shadier aspects.

    Use extra caution around terrain traps, where even a small avalanche could push you into rocks, trees, creeks, or off a cliff.

    Example photo: If you do trigger a wet loose avalanche, it could gouge deeper than expected, pick up a lot of mass, and run a long ways. 

Avalanche Discussion

Freezing levels will soar to over 12,000ft on Thursday. Beware additional snow hazards, like increased chances of cornice fall, and isolated blocks of snow perched on steep, rocky cliffs breaking free and sliding down. Either of these failures could entrain more snow as they reach snow-covered slopes. 

A forecaster attempted to access Jim Hill via Lanham Lake on Wednesday, and their main concern was challenging travel rather than avalanches. They retreated not far from Lanham Lake, due to a variable snowpack and bare ridgelines. You can read the observation HERE. Another observer went to the north side of Mt Howard and found good snow, although wet and runneled, at around 6000ft. They were only able to trigger small avalanches by pushing large masses of snow on very steep slopes. 

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