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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Pay close attention to conditions as temperatures rise heading into the weekend. It will be possible to trigger a wet avalanche or be caught in one that releases naturally. Avoid travel on or directly below slopes where you find wet, mushy snow, fresh rollerballs, or small avalanches. Don't linger below cornices, glide cracks, or unstable snow clinging to cliff faces.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Thursday should bring a better chance of getting a real shot of sun after a few days of mixed clouds, sunbreaks, and light precipitation. Temperatures are not forecast to be especially high but will still be above freezing. Use caution navigating around steep terrain where the snow is wet and feels less stable. It's just as likely you will be able to push some wet snow down the hill as it is that you will see a natural avalanche. The higher sun angles of April mean wet most slopes can pick up additional warming from the sun.

    (12/9/2024)

    A small skier triggered wet loose avalanche from earlier in the winter.

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

With a regime of warmer temperatures and sun also comes an increased chance of seeing renewed cornice fall, glide avalanches, or other wet-snow-shedding-from-steep-terrain events. They are unlikely and should be very limited in distribution, but you don’t want to be in the way. It’s worth noting that these types of avalanches frequently trigger a larger one on the slope below. Take extra care if heading into bigger alpine terrain as the day warms.

Observations tend to get scarce on weekdays in spring with no new snow.  One observer reported a few inches of dry new snow that became moist later in the day as temperatures increased. While conditions felt less stable, no new human-triggered or natural avalanches were reported. Overall, there is up to 12" of snow over the crust buried in late March, depending on the elevation. The new snow was also reported to provide a much-needed improvement in riding conditions earlier in the week. With warming today, expect a surface crust Thursday morning that breaks down by midday.

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