Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago.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

Conditions are changing, and slab avalanches will be easy to trigger on steep, wind-exposed slopes. Easterly winds will drift snow in unique areas where it gets accelerated by terrain features. If you see blowing snow, long cracks on the surface, and stiff-feeling snow, stick to slopes under 35 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Avalanches will be easy to trigger where you find blowing snow and stiffened surface slabs. Stay alert and observant to clear signs of the danger. Other indicators and red flag signs include recent slab avalanches, long, shooting cracks in the snow, cornices, and wind-textured surfaces. You can test small, inconsequential slopes to see if they slide. If you see these signs of wind slab conditions, stick to slopes under 35 degrees or wind-sheltered terrain. If you see widely propagating avalanches, put lots of space between your group and any avalanche terrain.

    These new wind-stiffened slabs will be in unusual areas, and may be obvious on one ridge, but non-existent on another. While isolated, you may even be able to trigger avalanches in open terrain below 5,000ft. The east wind is typically driven by terrain, so you'll find the most transport and slab development on slopes that are near passes, gaps, and long east-west running valley corridors.

    (2/20/2026)

    A triggered cornice on a wind-loaded slope at Mission Ridge in the neighboring East Central zone. 

    Photo: Mission Ridge Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

On steep, wind-sheltered slopes, you can still trigger loose avalanches. While they may be small and predictable, these avalanches could push them into gullies, trees, or cliffs. 

Light snowfall and cold temperatures over the past 10 days have built a very weak upper snowpack. There's a decent amount of snow available to be blown by wind, and there's widespread weak snow over crusts on most slopes. All that's been lacking is a slab, which will start to develop Friday night. With wind, snow, and warming temperatures forecast through next week, the region is primed to develop dangerous avalanche conditions.

On Tuesday, an NWAC forecaster outside the Stevens Pass ski area boundary found plenty of weak snow surrounding a couple of crusts in the upper snowpack. We have limited information from upper elevations, above 6,000ft. If you travel there, we'd love to have your observations!

In the coming week, it's likely we'll see very reactive and dangerous conditions with avalanches on a widespread weak layer over a crust. On shaded, less sun-exposed slopes, there's 8-12" of soft, dry snow with a layer of weak facets and surface hoar (February 13th) immediately above the uppermost, thin crust (February 8th). About 10-14" below the surface, you'll find a more stout, thicker crust that resulted from warm temperatures and rain in late January and early February. On sunny, southeast through southwest slopes, there are numerous recent crusts with less overlying weak snow. Upper elevations will likely have a greater separation between crusts, with potentially more weak snow between them.

Regions covered