Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avoid avalanche terrain at middle and upper elevations, where strong winds and sun will drive large natural and triggered avalanches. Stay far away from and out from under avalanche paths and slopes over 30 degrees. You can easily trigger avalanches 2-3 feet deep over the most recent crust.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–2.5

    Avoid traveling in or under avalanche paths, especially any that start near ridges. You could remotely trigger very large avalanches from far away, and natural slides could come down from above. Seek out wind-sheltered and low-angle terrain, under 30 degrees.You could trigger an avalanche on many steep slopes, but wind-loaded terrain will be the most dangerous. Even at low elevations, you may be able to trigger slides remotely. The sun could make it easier to trigger avalanches in the afternoon on east-, south-, and west-facing aspects. Avalanches in the new snow could be 2-3 feet deep and could run on a crust formed on the 12th. 

    (3/13/2026)

    Skiers remotely triggered this avalanche on a very small feature from very far away. They were on a frequently traveled road. Skyline Lake area, S, Lower Elevation

    Photo: Chris Lile

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2.5–3

    We have limited information from upper elevations, but this powerful storm could have reawakened deeply buried weak layers. But given the uncertainty and high consequence, give yourself wide terrain margins around steep alpine terrain. A natural avalanche large enough to damage a house wouldn't be out of the question. These slides could run long distances into lower elevations and break widely across terrain features. 

    The same loading that's creating widespread storm and wind slabs is also stressing older weak layers. You can find layers of facets and buried surface hoar just above a couple of crusts about 4-6 feet below the surface.

    (2/28/2026)

    Multiple widely breaking avalanches (up to D2.5) on the southeast aspect of the South Peak of Rock Mtn. SE-S, 5,800ft-6,600ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

Natural avalanche cycles have been ongoing this week, in particular on Wednesday and Friday. We expect them to continue on Saturday. Avalanche professionals and observers have noted extremely reactive conditions, with remotely triggered avalanches running in places where they've rarely been seen, breaking widely, and traveling incredibly long distances on low-angle slopes. 

With 4 feet of snow in the past week, consider the consequences of deep snow immersion. Tree wells and creek holes can be very dangerous in these conditions. Make sure to keep close tabs on your partners in case you need to perform a rescue. 

On Wednesday, an NWAC forecaster reported widespread touchy storm slab avalanches in the Skyline Lake area. Avalanches were triggered remotely and broke widely around terrain features. On Tuesday, two snowboarders were caught and carried in a storm slab that failed on a crust 2-2.5' deep. These are dynamic and active storms with rapidly changing conditions. Make sure to keep a conservative mindset and wide margins with your terrain selection.

At upper elevations, we have limited information, but we suspect that older weak layers remain active, and this ongoing storm is the first true test.  Given the ongoing loading, avalanches on these weak layers could now be more likely. But we won't know much about this problem until after the storm passes. So treat these weak snow layers as highly suspect until we can reduce the uncertainty. 

Regions covered