Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

You could trigger soft wind slabs in higher elevation, isolated areas, and loose avalanches on very steep slopes. Identify and avoid steep slopes with freshly drifted features, especially if you find shooting cracks or blowing snow. Expect loose avalanches to run easily in steep, wind-sheltered terrain and on slopes that receive strong sun.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Look for active wind transport of snow, and evidence of recent drifting. Use caution steep slopes, especially convex rollovers and other unsupported features.  If you see shooting cracks in drifted snow or the snow feels 'slabby' stay off of steeper, consequential slopes. Cornices may be fragile from recent growth and could break under the weight of a person.

    East winds have been the prevailing wind direction since Monday. These often affect specific features differently than our more common SW or W wind pattern. Terrain such as Tye Peak, Lichtenberg Mountain, and the Moonlight area, along with adjacent east-west oriented valleys, may channel and accelerate easterly winds.

    (4/12/2022)

    East and NE winds formed drifts and wind features on a west-facing slope. Moonlight area

    Photo: Matt Primomo

  • Loose Dry

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

    You can trigger two types of loose avalanches- those that involve cold snow on steep shaded slopes, and those that involve snow that warms up on slopes that get direct sunshine. Stay alert to changing conditions and slopes well over 35 degrees where the snow slides easily. Instability may rise during periods of heavier snowfall, and after an hour or two of direct sun. Use extra caution near slopes with terrain traps like trees, gullies, or rocks. Be aware that large and/or complex terrain features could produce larger and more consequential slides.

    If clouds break, the surface of east-south-west aspects could quickly become warm and weak. Even 10 minutes of sun could be enough to trigger natural loose avalanches. If you see clearing skies and observe snow surface becoming heavy or damp, consider moving to more shaded aspects or slopes less than 35 degrees. 

    (4/12/2022) A small loose wet avalanche on Lichtenberg Mtn. 4,500ft, SE Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

Expect another round of east winds and some snow showers on Friday. Storm totals have been adding up, with moderate to strong east winds that have also drifted a fair amount of snow. On Thursday an observer reported ski cutting a small soft avalanche on N facing terrain of Lichtenberg (see observation and photo below). It ran 3/4 the length of the chute. Large wet loose slides and rollers ran naturally off very steep, cliffy terrain in the afternoon with direct sun, and loose dry slides were easily triggered on shaded slopes. You can find 2-2.5 feet of recent snow over the most significant crust, buried on April 8th. Recent snow amounts will vary as you move east and west of the Cascade crest as well as higher in the mountains. 

Observers reported that small wind slabs were easy to trigger on Wednesday. A skier also reported triggering a large loose dry avalanche on a steep, low elevation feature near Grace Lakes. On Tuesday, NWAC forecasters near both Skyline Lake and Lanham creek reported shallow avalanches in the recent snow. Very steep features near rocks and trees on Lichtenberg  Mtn and Jim Hill produced a handful of shallow point releases as the sun briefly warmed the surface snow. A skier triggered a shallow slab avalanche (about 6" deep by 50 feet across) at the top of the Moonlight area on a steep, cross-loaded feature. If you're in the mountains, submit an observation and let us know what you find.

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