Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago.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

Highlights

We’ve entered a holding pattern for a day, where moist, old snow makes up much of the zone. Conditions are generally safe, unless if you find yourself sinking deep into loose, wet snow at lower elevations and on southerly slopes. If you easily punch down a foot or more in the snow stay away from nearby steep slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Several days of warm temperatures softened snow at lower elevations, with a minimal chance of refreeze. Occasional sunlight on previous days encouraged more softening on southerly aspects. Light precipitation leading up to Wednesday, and a similar temperature to the day before will likely continue to loosen the already unfrozen snowpack. Our small saving grace on Wednesday could be slightly lower humidity and occasional morning breaks in the clouds, which may aid with at least a thin surface freeze. If it occurs, these conditions will be short-lived, as a temperature spike Wednesday night along with more precipitation will soften the snowpack even more.

    Sinking a foot or more into the snow makes for challenging travel, and could also preclude wet loose avalanches on steep slopes. If you encounter these conditions make your way to lower angle terrain or firmer slopes if you can find them. 

    (1/13/2022)

    Nope, this isn't a snowpit. The wet surface snow is weak and unsupportable. If you find the surface crust breaking down, anticipate an increase in the potential for wet avalanches. 

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

We saw many very large wet snow avalanches at the start of rain and warmer temperatures on Jan 11-12. Unlikely residual effects of the continued warm weather are worth keeping in mind. These concerns are glide cracks releasing and avalanching, and cornices breaking and tumbling downslope. Small amounts of snow fell at uppermost elevations Monday night. There’s an unlikely chance you could encounter a small, reactive wind slab if you make it high enough. 

Conditions vary greatly, with challenging, gloppy travel on the lower elevations and southerly aspects. Very firm crusts might not be found anymore, but those upper elevation slopes will retain much more of a solid surface than the aforementioned terrain. Keep this in mind when making your travel plans for Wednesday. 

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