Lawinenlagebericht

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Mon
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

Incoming rain will make wet avalanches Sunday's main concern at all elevations. If you find fresh avalanches, roller balls, or wet, weak snow, stick to slopes under 35 degrees. You may still be able to trigger large, slab avalanches in wind-loaded terrain where westerly winds previously built cornices and stiff slabs. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    Look for signs of instability to indicate that you could trigger wet avalanches. If you see fresh avalanches or roller balls, move to slopes less than 35 degrees. If in doubt, stay off very steep and unsupported terrain. 

    The rain will wet previously dry snow, although Sunday's rain amounts aren't significant. All but southerly slopes will initially be of concern. Southeast through southwest aspects warmed on the 9th, and may take longer to become weak enough to slide.

    (1/9/2026)

    Natural loose wet avalanche on Lichtenberg Mtn. SE, 5,000ftWL-N-D1.5-S

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1.5–2.5

    Given the recent avalanches on wind-loaded slopes, it's worth keeping wind slabs in mind. Incoming weather could make it easier to trigger these avalanches. Use caution on unsupported, wind-loaded slopes 35 degrees or steeper. Steer around convex roll-overs. Rain could weaken cornices, causing them to fall.

    Many of these avalanches have been large, and some at upper elevations may have been 3-5-feet deep. Now that the wind has subsided, look for recent avalanches, cornices, or deeply pillowed slabs to indicate the danger. The last known natural avalanche occurred in the early morning of the 9th.

    (1/9/2026)

    A cornice-fall triggered slab avalanche likely occurred between late Jan 8-9th. Big Chief Mtn, SE, 5,650ft SS-NC-D2-S

    Photo: WSDOT

Avalanche Discussion

On Friday, January 9th, four backcountry skiers were caught and carried by a large avalanche while descending near Longs Pass in the Teanaway River drainage. The slide occurred on an S to SE facing slope at approximately 6200ft. One member of the party was not buried. Another teammate was partially buried but injured. The other two individuals were fully buried. During the initial rescue, the team located one of the buried victims, who did not survive. Despite the group's best efforts, they could not pinpoint the fourth member of their team. The party contacted 911 via a satellite device, and Kittitas County Search and Rescue responded to the area on Friday evening. Additional rescue efforts were postponed until daylight. Search and Rescue then returned to the site on Saturday and were joined by NWAC forecasters. The teams were able to locate the remaining victim. Unfortunately, neither of the fully buried skiers survived. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community of those involved in this avalanche accident. S-SE aspect, 6200ft, Avg Depth 2ft, HS-AS-R3-D2.5-O

A wet atmospheric river will deliver rain to the Stevens Pass zone by Sunday morning, with the bulk of the precipitation coming Sunday night to Monday.

A storm from January 6-8th totaled near 30" of snow and has settled to about 2' of snow on the ground. On the 9th, the sun warmed snow surfaces, triggering wet avalanches on southerly aspects. The most recent wind slab avalanches likely occurred between the night of the 8th and the morning of the 9th when strong westerly winds transported snow. On the 7th, a rider was partially buried in an avalanche in Moonlight Basin but uninjured. 

You can find the January 3rd melt-freeze crust about 3-3.5 feet below the surface. While the overlying snow had generally been well-bonded to the crust, avalanche observations indicate otherwise. While information isn't conclusive, the rapid and severe loading of the crust has produced a couple of deeper avalanches. On the 9th, NWAC Forecasters went to the site of the partial burial in Moonlight and found that storm interfaces had gained strength in that time. Besides a couple of distant photos, we don't have many details about the upper elevation snowpack.

There are a few other crusts in the snowpack that serve as good markers. About  1 foot below the January 3rd crust is a thin December 24th crust, which can be found up to 5500ft. A stout crust from December 18th, should now be near the lower third of the snowpack. 

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