Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

We may receive just enough snow at upper elevations to create shallow, but reactive storm slabs. Use caution on very steep slopes if you find more than a few inches of new snow, because there may be weak, faceted grains below. If the sun comes out, expect small rollerballs and even a loose sluff or two on steep slopes that catch the sun. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    It may not take too much new snow to create shallow, reactive slabs. Especially look for instabilities to develop on northwest to northeast aspects near and above treeline. This is where old snow is weakest; Where faceted grains rest above a crust from early March. Look for shooting cracks and use small, steep test slopes to check and see how the new snow is bonding. 

    If the sun comes out and there's some new snow, expect small rollerballs or wet loose avalanches on south facing, and lower elevation slopes. Wet sticky snow can also be a good indicator that you could trigger small loose wet slides. 

    Example shallow storm slab.

    Photo: Alpental Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

We're about to begin a pattern shift as the first in a series of systems approaches. We're not expecting a big dump for Sunday, but it may be just enough new snow to increase avalanche danger at higher elevations. The sun may make an appearance by the middle of the day on Sunday, and keep an eye out for wet, sticky snow surfaces and rollerballs- indicators you could trigger small wet loose avalanches. This is a good time to continue tracking the surfaces that may be buried by just a few inches of snow. Look for soft, weak, sugary snow just below the surface. A stout crust formed during the last atmospheric river event on March 1st and was buried in many places on March 3rd. On many shaded and upper elevations slopes, you can find weak snow just above the early March crust. By Monday, we may have enough new snow over this structure for dangerous conditions to develop in the zone. The weak structure may persist, and dangerous avalanche conditions may continue into the week or beyond.

Shallowly buried and hidden, icy avalanche debris may make travel conditions challenging. There was a widespread, natural avalanche cycle in most of the Cascades on February 28th, while the area received heavy snow, followed by heavy rain up to at least 6,500ft. The avalanche cycle in the Stevens Pass zone included multiple slides at size D2.5-3, and many smaller avalanches. Observers reported avalanches running on unusually low-angle terrain. Check out the avalanche database for details of some of these.

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