Bulletin d’avalanche

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Fri
Alpin
3 · Marqué
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
2 · Modéré
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 5 months ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

It will be easy to trigger avalanches in the new snow, and they'll be especially dangerous where the wind forms fresh drifts near ridges and at upper elevations. Watch for recent avalanches, actively blowing snow, and stiffer drifts as signs of the danger. Steer around drifted pillows of snow just below ridges and use caution on all slopes over 35 degrees.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely
    Taille
    1–2

    At upper elevations, avalanches could be big enough to bury you. Watch for blowing snow to indicate where you can trigger avalanches. Manage the risk by steering around wind-stiffened snow below ridges, drifts, and convex roll-overs where you suspect fresh wind slabs. Better yet, stay off steep, leeward slopes altogether. Seek out wind-sheltered terrain or slopes under 35 degrees. 

    The Stevens Pass zone could receive 7-10" of snow Wednesday night into Thursday. Westerly winds could gust up to 30mph. The new snow could slide easily on slick crusts and weak old snow surfaces.

    (3/26/2026)

    Cross-loaded, wind-textured snow and a partially filled-in crowns of avalanches (D2) that occurred around 3/20. White Pine ck, 6,900ft, N-NE

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    With 7-10" of new snow falling on a variety of surfaces, you may be able to trigger avalanches in wind-sheltered terrain, as well. Loose avalanches will be more predictable and smaller, but they could still be dangerous if they catch you off guard. Use small test slopes to see how easily the snow slides before committing to bigger terrain. Use caution near terrain traps, where an avalanche could push you into rocks, trees, or gullies. 

    (12/30/2025)

    The west face of Rock Mtn in late afternoon light with fresh point releases (likely dry).

    Photo: Ryan Minton

Avalanche Discussion

Another cool, spring snowstorm is moving over Stevens Pass. There's some uncertainty about how the new snow will bond to the variety of old snow surfaces. Additionally, you may see some partial clearing, especially in the eastern part of the zone. If you see the sun, expect that it may get easier to trigger avalanches on steep east, south, and west aspects. 

On Tuesday, an NWAC forecaster in the Skyline Lake area found a variety of conditions. On steep, northerly slopes, there was about 1 foot of soft snow over the stout, 3/25 crust. Some weak, faceted grains could be seen on and just below the surface. Many other slopes had crusts either on the surface or just below it. 

Check the bond at the interface between the new and old snow. The new snow will fall on a variety of surfaces. On northerly aspects, weak, faceted layers and recent storm snow could be buried, especially above 5,000ft. The new snow will fall on slick crusts on sun-exposed, east, south, and west aspects. At middle and upper elevations, old surfaces are wind-textured and drifted. On March 25th, Stevens Pass picked up 1-1.5 ft of snow, accompanied by strong westerly winds. This snow can still be found resting on a stout crust, about 1 foot below the surface. 

Prepare for low snow cover, open creeks, and icy surfaces, which create various travel hazards. 

Régions couvertes