Winter Storm — East Slopes Northern Cascades, Washington

2021-02-22 to 2021-02-23 · East Slopes Northern Cascades, Washington

Event narrative

Several bands of heavy snow closed Stevens Pass at 6PM February 22nd through 8AM on February 23rd. The Washington Department of Transportation reported 11 inches of new snow accumulation at Stevens Pass. Heavy snow continued falling through the day adding to already dangerous driving conditions. The Northwest Avalanche Center reported very dangerous avalanche conditions and urged people to avoid backcountry travel due to strong winds and the ongoing snow. There are no reports of injuries due to avalanches.

Wider weather episode

The passage of a cold front on February 22nd lead to lower snow levels and heavy snowfall in the Cascades. Over a foot of snow fell in the Cascade Crest from February 22nd evening through the 23rd. With the frontal pass, winds were breezy with gusts reaching 20-35 mph.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 944943. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.