Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

We're in a spring diurnal cycle, so expect surface crusts to be frozen and most supportable first thing in the morning. By late morning and early afternoon the crust will begin to melt and break down. Move off of steep slopes once the surface crust becomes unsupportable or if you sink into wet snow deeply. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    You may be able to trigger small loose wet avalanches on steeper slopes if surfaces soften during the day. The biggest indicators that you could trigger wet avalanches on Saturday are the presence of a surface crust or not. Once surface crusts melt and become weak, move to lower angle or shaded slopes. On the highest peaks of the zone, you may find enough dry snow to become wet and heavy during the day. Small loose wet avalanches could run off of very steep slopes facing east, south, and west. In the nearby East Central zone, we're expecting Moderate danger for these higher elevations, but most peaks in the Stevens Pass zone are below the rain/snow line. 

    In any case, be sure to pay attention to the possibility for small loose wet avalanches on Sunday. If you see rollerballs or fresh loose wet avalanches, stay off of steep slopes. You can avoid this potential hazard by changing aspects and staying on cooler, frozen surfaces. 

    (3/4/2022)

    Lichtenberg's SW side with lots of debris from earlier in the week. 

    Photo: Pat Riffie

Avalanche Discussion

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. Stevens Pass picked up nearly 8" of water equivalent February 26-March 1. The first 3" of water brought 28" of snow accumulation into the morning of the 28th. The rest fell as rain at 4,000ft but more snow may have accumulated above 6,000ft. Rain fell up to at least 6,500ft, but maybe not much higher. The avalanche cycle in the Stevens Pass zone included multiple slides at size D2.5-3, and many in the smaller range. Check out the avalanche database for more details on some of these.

In the past days, light snow and rain fell with shallow accumulation. Quiet weather and cooling temperatures have allowed the avalanche danger to ease. 

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