Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Cold temperatures, sun, and east wind will impact avalanche conditions on Tuesday.  You may be able to trigger slab avalanches big enough to kill on slopes 35 degrees and steeper near and above treeline. Watch for areas of wind drifted snow just below ridge tops at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Wind slabs will be easier to trigger at the highest elevations.  Use caution on wind-exposed slopes 35 degrees and steeper and just below ridges. You can stay safe by steering around pillows of wind-drifted snow and by sticking to lower angled or wind-sheltered slopes. Watch for plumes of blowing snow or stiffer surface conditions. Pay attention as you move into wind-exposed terrain higher in the mountains. Note any signs of wind drifting and anticipate which slopes hold wind-drifted slabs. 

    There's uncertainty about how easily you can trigger these avalanches and exactly where they'll be. East winds Monday night into Tuesday could be gusty and strong enough to drift slabs on the western half of the compass, especially on the highest ridges. If the east winds transport enough snow, fresh wind slabs could be easy to trigger. Older slabs that formed from west winds on Saturday night got blanketed by more snow and are becoming difficult to trigger. 

    An example from Monday in the West North zone.  Northeast winds transported snow off a slope that had previously been loaded by southwest winds over the weekend. Note the older triggered wind slab avalanche. Photo: Lee Lazzara

Avalanche Discussion

You may be able to trigger small loose avalanches in the surface snow on very steep, wind-sheltered slopes. On sunny, southeast through southwest aspects, the sun may trigger small loose avalanches near rocks and cliffs. Cold temperatures are preserving light, dry snow on the surface. A storm brought about 2.5 feet of snow to the top of Stevens Pass Saturday through Sunday with some westerly winds overnight. 

On Monday, observers reported generally stable conditions and that the recent storm snow has continued to bond well. A handful of small point releases (loose dry) were reported on steep slopes on both sunny and shaded aspects. On Sunday, Stevens Pass patrol triggered slab avalanches within the storm snow with ski cuts and explosives. A few of these were big enough to bury a person. Avalanche mitigation work and snowpack tests consistently showed a good bond at the Feb 19th and Valentine's crust interfaces. On mid to upper elevation shaded, northerly aspects, you may be able to find weak snow near these thin, rough crusts about 2.5-3 feet below the surface.

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