Avalanche forecast

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

On Wednesday, you may still be able to trigger avalanches in drifted snow on leeward sides of ridges at middle and upper elevations. Another couple of inches of snow will fall and winds could be strong enough to form shallow slabs. Watch for moist or wet snow at 4,000-5,000ft.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Steer around slopes steeper than 35 degrees where the wind has drifted deeper pillows of snow. If you see recent avalanches or cracks shooting out from your equipment, stick to lower-angle slopes. Textured snow surfaces and fresh cornices can help identify wind-loaded areas. You can also use small wind-affected test slopes to see how the snow reacts. Snow that cracks and slides easily means you can trigger an avalanche on a larger slope.

    The Stevens zone could see another 2-3 inches of snow with enough southeast wind for isolated and shallow fresh wind slabs. Strong westerly winds formed slabs by the morning of the 10th. You may still be able to trigger these, but they'll be harder to identify as they could be covered by new snow. Use a probe or pole to feel for the stiff snow just under the surface. 

    (3/10/2025)

    Westerly winds on the night of March 9th formed these drifts with 6" of new snow. Lictenberg Mtn, SW, 4,800ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

With snow levels forecast to hover between 3,500-5,000ft, you may encounter some moist snow at low elevations.

The 6" that accumulated Sunday night (3/9) stayed dry on northerly aspects and at upper elevations. There's a chance that you could find buried surface hoar at the March 9th interface on high elevation, northerly aspects. Observers in the Foss River drainage reported triggering very reactive avalanches on isolated leeward slopes, which are suspiciously indicative of the potential surface hoar. Observers in the West North zone reported similar avalanches on the 10th.

On most slopes below the recent snow, you'll find crusts and melt forms. The upper snowpack is mostly frozen, but at low elevation and on east through south through west aspects, you may still find moist, unfrozen layers.  On Monday, a profile at 5,050ft, E near Lake Valhalla revealed weak, unfrozen moist snow 1.5ft (45cm) below the surface, under frozen crusts.

The snowpack underwent a significant transition during the atmospheric river storm of February 21-25th. Significant liquid water entered the snowpack before switching to snow that totaled near 2 ft. Large slab and wet avalanches were reported throughout the zone. Prolonged warming in early March further transitioned the snow that accumulated. Most slopes have multiple stout crusts and/or moist snow in the upper snowpack.

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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