Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 months ago.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

Highlights

Tuesday's storm could result in around a foot of snow at mid and upper elevations, and human-triggered avalanches are likely. Expect deeper snow and more reactive avalanches at higher elevations, especially in areas with wind-drifted snow, so steer around thicker, wind-loaded slopes, especially as you climb higher. If you see the sun, expect wet avalanches, so steer clear of areas beneath large, steep slopes facing the sun. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Most avalanche activity will likely be limited to wind slabs. Search out newly drifted areas by identifying obvious clues such as actively blowing snow, textured or pillowed surfaces, or heavier-feeling snow beneath you. These slabs are most likely to form along ridgelines, on convex rolls, in gullies, and around rocky outcropping. These will be larger and more reactive at higher elevations. Steer around steep slopes where you identify wind slabs. 

    A smooth crust beneath the new snow up high may indicate a poor bond beneath the new layer, allowing snow to slide easily—even outside wind-loaded terrain. If you have the skills, use quick hand pits to assess bonding. If the snow is well-bonded to the underlying layer and right-side-up (softer toward the surface), cautiously traveling on steeper, non-wind-loaded slopes may be reasonable—but start small. Expect loose dry avalanches (sluffing) in these areas.

    Search for obvious red flags like shooting cracks or recent avalanches—signs the snowpack needs more time. If you see any indicators that the snow is unstable, or have any doubt, avoid all steep slopes.

    (3/15/2025) Example photo: It may only be subtle, but slightly heavier, wind-drifted snow that forms in featured terrain, like near rocks and ridges, might be all it takes to trigger an avalanche on Wednesday. 

  • Loose Wet

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

    If clouds break on Wednesday, it won’t take much for the strong spring sun to initiate wet loose avalanches in the new snow. Slides will most likely start from tree bombs or rocky areas, but they could release on any steep, sun-exposed slope. If the sun comes out, expect a quick uptick in activity. With several inches of new snow, avalanches could grow larger than expected.

    If the sun appears, move away from steep, sunlit slopes and terrain beneath them. You may notice rollerballs or small slides, but you don't have to wait for them to happen to expect more activity. 

    (12/23/2024)

    A natural loose wet avalanche (D1.5) occurred on Licthenberg Mtn, which is similar to what migh happen with sun breaks on Wednesday- except that there are hardly any intact old snow patches on Lichtenberg's SE slopes, so you probably won't see them there. 

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

Make sure you shift your mindset back to winter conditions and dry snow avalanche problems if you venture out on Wednesday. As of Tuesday evening, Brooks was reporting 6 inches and Schmidt was reading 3. There was likely more snow at higher elevations. Tuesday night, we're expecting another 6 or so inches of snow, with snowlines dropping low. It's going to be cold. Only the upper portions of the lower elevation band have old snow cover, and smaller avalanches could happen there. 

Before this storm, we had a long period of spring weather, with receding snowpacks that were rapidly transitioning to spring conditions. Most areas, aside from upper-elevation north-facing slopes, had a spring snowpack composed of moist, large melt forms. The surface layer may have frozen into a hard crust during this cooling, especially as you work your way up. Higher north-facing slopes still may have had some dry snow layers, but probably crusts from wind or warming at the surface, now beneath this new snow layer. 

There are so many bare and melted out areas, including cracks and holes all the way up through mid elevations. Many of these will be thinly disguised by the new snow. Beware of these hazards during your travels. 

Regions covered