Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

On Tuesday, you can trigger avalanches in recently drifted snow on leeward sides of ridges and terrain features at middle and upper elevations. About 6" of snow fell on Sunday night with strong westerly winds. Tuesday's weather of mostly cloudy skies and a trace of snow won't do much to contribute to the avalanche danger.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Steer around slopes steeper than 35 degrees where the wind has drifted deeper pillows of snow. If you see recent avalanches or cracks shooting out from your equipment, stick to lower-angle slopes. Textured snow surfaces and fresh cornices can help identify wind-loaded areas. You can also use small wind-affected test slopes to see how the snow reacts. Snow that cracks and slides easily means you can trigger an avalanche on a larger slope.

    On the night of March 9th, 6" of new snow accumulated. Strong westerly winds formed slabs, and then eased by the morning of the 10th. On Tuesday, you can still trigger avalanches in these wind-drifted slabs.

    (3/10/2025)

    Westerly winds on the night of March 9th formed these drifts with 6" of new snow. Lictenberg Mtn, SW, 4,800ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday will bring fairly benign weather. We expect another round of light snow into Wednesday.

The 6" that accumulated Sunday night stayed dry on northerly aspects, but it briefly got moist on sun-exposed aspects. Below the recent snow, you'll find melt forms on most slopes. The upper snowpack is mostly frozen, but at low elevation and on east through south through west aspects, you may still find moist, unfrozen snow.  On Monday, a profile at 5,050ft, E near Lake Valhalla revealed weak, unfrozen moist snow 1.5ft (45cm) below the surface, under frozen crusts.

The snowpack underwent a significant transition during the atmospheric river storm of February 21-25th. Significant liquid water entered the snowpack before switching to snow that totaled near 2 ft. Large slab and wet avalanches were reported throughout the zone. Prolonged warming in early March further transitioned the snow that accumulated. Most slopes have multiple stout crusts and/or moist snow in the upper snowpack.

If you make it into the backcountry, please share with us what you find by submitting an observation HERE or on the Avy app. 

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