Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Dangerous conditions are expected to intensify through the weekend, accompanied by precipitation and wind. You can easily trigger avalanches in the new snow, so stick to lower-angle, wind-sheltered terrain and consider avoiding slopes over 35 degrees. If the sun comes out, you may be able to trigger wet avalanches on steep, sun-exposed slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    With close to another foot of heavy snow expected by mid-morning on Saturday, you will be able to trigger avalanches on a variety of slopes. Any avalanche in the new snow could be dangerous, but they will be easiest to trigger and could be big enough to bury you on leeward slopes at middle and upper elevations. Avoid wind-loaded sides of ridges and steep slopes where you see blowing snow and wind-stiffened surfaces.

    Use small test slopes to see how the snow reacts before committing to bigger terrain. If you see recent avalanches, cracks shooting from your equipment, or snow that slides easily, stick to well-supported terrain and slopes under 35 degrees. At upper elevations, there's a chance that you could trigger a large avalanche, over 3 feet deep, especially in steep, cliffy terrain. See a recent example of a deep, triggered avalanche in Mill Creek.

    (3/21/2025)

    A large, skier-triggered avalanche in wind-drifted new snow. Lanham creek, N, 5400ft.SS-AS-D2

  • Loose Wet

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

    There is plenty of fresh snow lying around that will have a bad reaction to strong sun. Periods of clear-ish sky and sun might be brief, but the March sun is powerful, and it won’t take much to warm snow surfaces. Avoid travel on or directly under steep slopes where you see fresh rollerballs or small wet avalanches.

    (1/7/2025)

    Wet loose avalanches that naturally ran from steep, rocky outcroppings in East Highlands Bowl. E, 5500ft.

    Photo: Irene Henninger

Avalanche Discussion

Observers reported numerous triggered avalanches in the past few days, with many occurring on leeward, wind-loaded slopes. On Friday, conditions were the most reactive that we've seen this week. Observers reported triggering large avalanches in Lanham Creek and near The Swath (see photos above and below). Stevens Pass Patrol triggered widespread avalanches in the new snow during control work. Many were small and in sheltered terrain. A handful were big enough to injure or kill a person,  D1.5-2, and those were often in wind-drifted slabs of snow. Patrol also reported natural avalanches on leeward slopes. 

We expect that very dangerous conditions could develop on Sunday as heavy, wet snow and rain fall. The heavy load and water in the snowpack may tip the balance, triggering numerous large avalanches. We're experiencing almost two weeks of incremental storms, accompanied by periods of strong winds. In the Stevens Pass area, you can find over 3 feet of settled storm snow that has accumulated since March 9th. This week, NWAC forecasters and other observers have reported reactive wind slabs failing on mid-storm interfaces. In all, over 30 avalanches have been reported in this and surrounding zones, including at least four avalanche involvements. On high elevation, northerly aspects, there's a chance that you could find weak snow (possibly around a crust) at the March 9th interface, about 3 feet below the surface. 

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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