Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

The warm temperatures are maintaining elevated danger for wet avalanches. There's still a chance for large, wet avalanches until the snowpack cools further. Stay off of steep terrain and avoid traveling under cornices and large open slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Avoid steep slopes with heavy, saturated snow where you could trigger a wet avalanche. Wet avalanches may run naturally, so stay out from under steep overhead terrain. If you need to travel through avalanche runouts, move quickly and avoid lingering. Avoid traveling through gullies and other terrain traps. Cornice falls and glide avalanches remain a concern. Whether you're on ridges or slopes below, give cornices and open glide cracks a wide berth. 

    Wet loose avalanches are the most likely type of avalanche to encounter; larger wet slabs, cornice falls, and glide avalanches can be more dangerous. A widespread wet avalanche cycle occurred on the 23rd and 24th, and the snowpack remains wet and weak. 

    (3/25/2025)

    A deep crown, over 1000ft wide, of a very large (D3) wet slab avalanche.

    Mt Mastiff, WNW, 6,500ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

On Wednesday night, thunderstorms are expected to deliver a quick 0.5" of rain. This heavy precipitation could quickly increase the avalanche danger. By Thursday, temperatures will cool a bit, but not enough to eliminate the danger of wet avalanches. The wet, unsupportive snow will make for challenging travel conditions.

The Stevens Pass zone received over 4" of liquid water at 5000ft from March 23-25th. This initiated widespread avalanches, including many large to very large wet slab avalanches. While observations indicate that the avalanche activity is tapering off, consider the consequences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Choose your terrain wisely, and pay attention to the terrain in terrain well above you.

On Tuesday, an NWAC forecaster observed the widespread avalanche activity that occurred at the beginning of the week in the Highway 2 corridor. Very large (up to D3) wet slab avalanches with widely propagating and deep crowns occurred at upper elevations. At lower elevations, wet loose avalanches (Size D1-2) ran on most steep slopes. The snowpack was saturated to about 1 ft deep, with moist snow below that. Rain runnels and water pooling on deeper layers in the snowpack indicated that drain channels had been established and free water was moving through the snowpack. 

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