Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger is Low, but continue to be cautious around mushy, wet snow on steep slopes with daytime warming. Look for glide cracks as you travel, glide avalanches may release sporadically where the snowpack rests over rock slab or grassy slopes. Cold 'recycled powder' can be found on higher, north facing slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Temperatures should be a notch cooler on Tuesday, but they're still expected to be mild enough to break down the overnight refreeze during the day. Check the thickness and supportability of the surface crust as the day progresses. If you're sinking past your ankle boot top with skis on, you could trigger a wet loose avalanche on steep slopes. Consider using quick, informal tests to check how easily the snow slides or entrains before committing to larger, steep slopes. Use extra caution on very steep slopes with exposed rocks, or where the snowpack may be shallow. 

    Observers have noted a handful of glide cracks opening up within the zone (see photo below). These may release at seemingly random times of the day or night. Your best travel technique is to avoid potential runout zones of any features with glide cracks above. You may find areas of weak, wet, and unsupportive snow at low elevations and around trees or rocks. These areas could present a travel hazard for falling into holes.

    (1/22/2022)

    Small wet loose avalanche off steep south facing terrain on Lichtenberg Mtn.

    Photo: Matt Primomo

Avalanche Discussion

Cooler temperatures and some high clouds in the afternoon should limit the extent of snow melt on Tuesday. Observers on Sunday noted rollerballs on many slopes, even on some in the shade at lower elevations.  Glide cracks continue to slowly open, such as the one above Wellington (see photo below). Cold, dry snow can be found over a stout crust on higher elevation, north facing slopes. This dry snow is beginning to become weaker with time, which makes for nice ski conditions for now. On Saturday, observers reported a handful of wet avalanches on steep sunny slopes. A couple of notable slides on the southeast face of Lichtenberg Mtn were big enough to bury a person and may have gouged into older layers of snow.  

The snowpack has seen significant wetting from multiple rain events and sun in the past 10 days. Much of the snowpack is well transitioned to melt forms. This combined with the short days and weak January sun is keeping the snowpack from falling apart like it might in March with similar temperatures. We'll continue to track stability through this warm period by monitoring how wet the snowpack is getting and how much crusts in the upper snowpack are melting and breaking down. 

Regions covered