UPDATE (2/21/12): An avalanche cycle could break through today and tonight (Tuesday) in the Olympics and Washington Cascasde Mountains, according to the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.

“The warm front portion of a strong system should reach the Northwest on Tuesday. This should cause very strong winds, heavy rain and rising snow levels in this area. After the recent heavy snowfall these are about the best ingredients one can ask for avalanches. 

“This should cause an avalanche cycle on Tuesday and Tuesday night with large or very large avalanche in many areas. Avoid avalanche terrain especially in the Olympics and near and west of the crest on Tuesday and Tuesday night.”

Original story follows:

Three skiers were killed in “out-of-bounds” territory on the backside of Stevens Pass Resort, Wash., Sunday following a powerful winter storm. A snowboarder was killed in a separate avalanche south in Snoqualmie Pass.

The three experienced skiers were part of a group of 13, according to survivors Megan Michelson, ESPN’s freeskiing editor, and Elyse Saugstad, a professional skier. The slide occurred after a number of the skiers had already skied the top section. The storm dropped 26 inches of snow in 48 hours, 19 inches of that in 24 hours.

Saugstad and the three skiers who perished in the slide were waiting about 300 feet below the top of the line when the avalanche was triggered. They estimated they were carried between 2,000 and 3,000 feet.

“I was completely buried except for my head and hands,” Saugstad told ESPN. She said she immediately deployed an airbag from her backpack that likely saved her life. Michelson said the debris pile at the bottom was massive.

Skiers killed were identified as Chris Rudolph, 30, director of marketing for Stevens Pass Resort, and 46-year-old Jim Jack, a competitive free-skiing judge, and skier John Brenan. A determination had not been made at press time if the avalanche was triggered by the skiers or possibly by a truck in the vicinity. The snowboarder who died at Alpental in Snoqualmie Pass apparently triggered that avalanche and was swept over a cliff.

“I’m crushed.  I can’t believe it.  Besides being a friend, Chris was one of the brightest young stars in our industry and he will be sorely missed,” John McColly, vice president of sister resort Mountain High in Southern California told SnoCountry.com.

The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center had rated the avalanche danger as “High” Saturday morning above 5,000 feet and warned of “widespread natural and triggered soft and wind slab avalanches” for the area around Stevens Pass. The resort summit elevation is 5,845 feet.

Stevens Pass Resort is open today (Feb. 20) and is reporting powder and packed powder base of 103-122 inches.

Warnings Continue 

The N.W. Avalanche Center continued to warn about conditions Monday (Feb. 20): “Smaller natural or triggered soft or wind slab avalanches up to 6-12 inches should be expected on lee slopes at higher elevations. Careful snow evaluation and cautious route finding should be essential on Monday.”

An avalanche near Telluride Resort in Colorado in Lower Bear Creek took the life of Nate Soules, a long-time local and former resort employee, last week.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center issued a warning Friday before the holiday weekend reading, “Do not let the upcoming holiday weekend or the nice weather in any way fool you into thinking the avalanche conditions are anything but very serious across Colorado.” Another warning issued Monday, Feb. 20 read, “Avalanche warning for the Northern San Juan zone. 5-10" of snow, cold temps, wind creating dangerous wind slab.”

The Utah Avalanche Center advised skiers to “enjoy the fruits of the storm in wind sheltered locations out of and not underneath avalanche terrain. Stay on low angled slopes and meadows and also out of terrain traps such as steep gullies.” The warning noted “large snow accumulations, strong winds and cold temperatures have combined to create brittle wind slabs.”

Meanwhile, the warnings in the Lake Tahoe region were moderate to low. Pockets of moderate avalanche danger persist near treeline and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects on slope 35 degrees and steeper due to a persistent weak layer at the base of the recent new snow. For all other areas, avalanche danger is low.”

It is important to note that 32 of the 900 reported avalanche deaths nationwide since the winter of 1950-51 were within ski resort boundaries, according to the Utah Center. The others were out-of-bounds or backcountry. The tally of avalanche deaths this season is now 17.

What It Means: The posting Monday morning at the Friends of NW Weather and Avalanche page said it best: “It was a sad day in the Cascades. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of those we lost. Please be careful out there folks.”

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Photo: Meg Haywood-Sullivan