Stevens Pass

The avalanche danger will be significantly greater in terrain above treeline where deeper storm snow has accumulated and stronger winds have built unstable wind slabs. Best to avoid travel in higher exposed terrain until these new slabs have time to stabilize. Heightened avalanche conditions will exist in areas experiencing high snowfall rates of greater than 2" per hour in heavier shower bands. Watch for and avoid travel in steep terrain where you encounter stiff or denser surface snow conditions. Human triggered avalanches are still possible Friday. 

Cool temperatures, moderate snow showers and periods of moderate S-SW winds will continue to deposit new snow and further build existing wind and storm slab layers.

Note that a refreezing 1/17 rain crust will continue to harden and may provide a bed surface for wind and storm slab avalanches on Friday.

Building wind and storm slabs should maintain dangerous avalanche conditions above treeline. Storm slabs may form quickly and become sensitive to human triggering, especially in those areas receiving the greatest amounts of new snow (more than about 8" of new snow accumulated) and higher snowfall rates (extended periods of more than about 2" per hour). 

Conservative terrain choices will be essential in higher and wind exposed terrain. Best to travel in wind sheltered, lower elevation terrain well away from steep open slopes until this new storm snow stabilizes. 

In the passes new storm snow amounts varied according to elevations as rain gradually changed to snow Wednesday night. As of Thursday evening, storm snow since Wednesday below 4000' is about 4-6 ", near 4000' about 8-10' and above 5000' about 12-16".

Above treeline, greater new snow amounts and periods of very strong winds have caused dangerous avalanche conditions. New wind and storm slabs in higher exposed terrain will require careful terrain choices and conservative decision making.  

Near and below treeline the precipitation began as rain and transitioned to snow. This has caused less dangerous conditions with new snow forming good bonding to the old rain soaked snowpack. However, heavy snowfall and moderate to strong winds have built increasing wind and storm slabs at progressively lower elevations. There are still heightened avalanche conditions with new and increasingly deep wind and storm slabs of 1 ft or more as of late Thursday.

The old rain wet snow continues to gradually re-freeze and form a new crust layer.

The older snowpack has undergone several rain or warm periods and remains void of any significant layers of concern.

Observations

North

Thursday morning, the Mt Baker Pro Patrol reported fresh wind slabs were sensitive to ski cuts and were releasing in the 4-5 inch range, near treeline. Winds were reportedly very strong along ridges and actively transporting the new snow. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Mt. Baker Pro Patrol observed evidence of several large, natural loose wet avalanches visible on Shuksan arm at approximately 3000 ft. The avalanches are suspected to be from earlier Wednesday. 

Central

NWAC forecaster, Dallas Glass was on Skyline Ridge at Stevens Pass Thursday and reported new storm snow of 8 inches at 4000 feet and 14 inches above 5000 feet. The bonding was good to the old rain wet snow. The crust had yet to re-freeze but was in the process. There was evidence of recent wind transport with a fresh natural avalanche having released on a steep east face about 5300 feet, likely during a brief warm up Wednesday night. There were storm slab layers noted from fluctuating temperatures overnight, but were not sensitive to human trigger in that location. 

South

No recent observations