Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The sun and warming temperatures could create loose wet avalanches on southerly aspects at upper elevations. Pay attention to how much the sun is warming recent snow, and watch for rollerballs and natural avalanches as signs to move to lower-angle, shaded terrain. Difficult travel due to shallow snow and surface crusts will likely be your main concern at low elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    If you find recent snow that was previously dry and lacks a surface crust, you may encounter wet avalanches on steep, sunny slopes. Watch for typical indicators like clearing skies, weak, moist snow, and rollerballs. If you encounter these things, plan to move off steep, sun-exposed slopes before the snow becomes weak enough to trigger a slide.

    Terrain above 5, 500ft picked up three inches or more of snow since the 7th. Below this elevation, the snow is capped with a stout crust. The majority of the terrain in the Stevens Pass Zone lacks sufficient recent snow for avalanche danger. We haven't received recent observations at upper elevations, but chances are, there's a decent amount of recent snow above 6,000ft.

    (1/12/2026)

    A  wet loose avalanche from early January on Lichtenberg Mtn. 

    (WL-N-D1.5-O)

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

On Tuesday, cloud cover and sun intensity are the main weather variables that could change. We expect clearing to begin near daybreak, though there's a chance for more clouds to move in through the day. If skies remain mostly cloudy, the avalanche danger may be low.  At upper elevations, you may also encounter very shallow previous wind loading and drifted slabs. While wind slab avalanches are unlikely and secondary to wet avalanches, keep an eye out for signs of stiffer drifted snow. Since the 7th, the, 

Professionals working near Lichtenberg and Stevens Pass on Sunday found that travel hazards likely outweighed avalanche hazards. Open creeks, bare ground, breakable crusts, and frozen chunder in forested areas are all things you might have to contend with to get into the more pleasant conditions above about 5500ft. After prolonged sunny, warm days, the upper snowpack on south aspects remains wet beneath surface crusts. On northerly aspects, the snowpack is slightly less soggy, but still moist with multiple crusts in the upper snowpack. We have minimal avalanche concerns for layers below this most recent interface (2/7 crust) moving forward. 

Regions covered