Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

We have entered a more normal spring weather pattern after an anything but normal week of sustained soggy weather. There is plenty of water swimming around in the snowpack that could make it all suddenly come unglued. It's unlikely you'd trigger anything, but you should limit your travel on big, steep slopes or under cliffs and hanging blocks of snow until the snowpack has had more time to refreeze.

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Glide avalanches are not a common occurrence on Stevens Pass, but nearly 5 inches of rain pushed through the snowpack this week isn't either. The zone saw the gamut of wet snow problems, including wet loose and wet slab avalanches, throughout the rainy week, and now water is flowing along the ground. The snowpack is struggling to stay attached to steep terrain such as cliffs, rock bands, and smooth rock slabs. Sagging cornices are also highly suspect, as one of these big chunks of snow could detach without warning. These aren’t problems you can evaluate with regular snowpack observations, and it’s unlikely you would trigger one. The only real way to reduce your risk is to limit the time spent below cornices, cliffs, wrinkled-looking snow, and anything else that looks sketchy and poorly attached to the mountain. Do not enter onto a slope where a glide crack is visible. 

    (3/20/2026)

    Glide cracks on a steep northeast aspect at 5400 feet in Steven Pass on Friday.

    Photo: Stevens Pass Ski Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Stevens Pass exited this prolonged atmospheric river event with about 5 inches of rain. And that was on the relatively "low" end of the precipitation spectrum for the forecast region. At pass level, total snow depth dropped by roughly 3 feet—over 40% of the seasonal peak snow depth reached last weekend—, and it's now swiftly working its way down the Skykomish River and Nason Creek. An NWAC Forecaster traveling on the pass on Friday and Saturday observed numerous natural wet loose and large wet slab avalanches, some of which are suspected to have released within the last 24-48 hours. Wet snow avalanche activity is trending down, but a buried layer of large melt forms about 3 feet deep could still produce another one of these isolated, larger wet slides. Ultimately, proceed into the backcounty with some caution you might not otherwise need for a mild day such as Sunday.

Expect a drastically altered mountain environment from a week ago, with open lakes, high-flowing creeks, and lots and lots of wet snow. There may be a small, superficial crust on the surface in the morning, but it will quickly break down as temperatures warm back up throughout the day. Plan ahead for more challenging access to the backcountry.

Regions covered