Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Windy conditions and fresh snow may form shallow drifts where you could trigger an avalanche. Consider wind-sheltered terrain or steer around stiff, wind-transported snow on steep slopes. Even small avalanches could take you for a rough ride over exposed obstacles in the thin snowpack. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    It's not a powerful storm for snow totals, but the winds will be enough to drift snow into shallow wind slabs on lee aspects. The previous slick crusts and weak snow surfaces could make these small avalanches easy to trigger. Actively drifting snow, fresh cornice formations, and textured surfaces are great visual clues to recognize wind-affected slopes. Small test slopes that produce shooting cracks or mini avalanches and any natural avalanche activity are signs of unstable snow. We expect these avalanches to be small but could have high consequences depending on the terrain and the number of exposed obstacles beneath you. Steering around steep slopes where you identify wind-drifted snow is the best way to avoid avalanches. 

    (3/20/2022)

    An example of a small wind slab avalanche, like the ones you may be able to trigger on Saturday.

    Photo: Ryan Minton

Avalanche Discussion

The Stevens Pass area received only about an inch of fresh snow on Thursday night. You can expect a bit more overnight on Friday and Saturday, but storm totals won't be impressive, probably topping out between 2-4 inches. After a brief break on Sunday morning, we'll likely see another small dose of snow. The new snow with light winds may have buried weak surfaces like surface hoar intact and could be a concern as we continue to load this layer. 

Observers in the Stevens Pass area reported soft, dry snow on northern aspects and breakable crusts on southern slopes on Friday. Travel on southern slopes was worse, with thicker crusts at upper elevations due to the recent warm inversion temperatures. They noted calm winds, a lack of recent avalanches, or any signs of instability. 

Over the weekend, a storm brought rain, cooling temperatures, and snow to the zone. A crust formed (12/7 crust) and is buried beneath 2-4 feet of snow. We've found a good bond between the crust and the recent snow in many areas. However, there are reports of weak facets above this crust, possibly a concern for future loading events. Sheltered northern slopes harbor weak surfaces and surface hoar. You can expect challenging, low-snow cover travel below 4000 feet and crusts to be unpleasant in the southern aspects. Northern slopes above 4000ft likely provide the best soft snow surfaces for winter recreation. 

If you get out in the backcountry, please share what you saw by SUBMITTING AN OBSERVATION so that we can write better avalanche forecasts for you. 

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