Bollettino valanghe

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Fri
Alta quota
4 · Forte
Limite del bosco
4 · Forte
Sotto il limite
3 · Marcato
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In sintesi

We expect most natural avalanches to run overnight, but you could still very easily trigger large avalanches on Thursday. Extreme winds and heavy snow will form dangerous slabs throughout the terrain. Traveling on or under any steep slopes should be avoided, but very large avalanches are most likely in terrain with deep wind drifts. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Very Likely
    Dimensione
    2–2.5

    The snow keeps piling up and increasing the potential for even larger storm and wind slabs. Snow levels will likely top out overnight, along with peak instability before a sharp cooldown. But even if natural activity has tapered off, avalanches will remain very likely to trigger.  At upper elevations, avalanches could step down to deeply buried weak layers and become very large. Avoid traveling below any steep alpine bowls. Cracking or recent avalanches are signs of instability, but even if you don't notice any of these red flags, it's not the day to step out into avalanche terrain. While this storm keeps rolling, stick to low-angle slopes well away from the runouts of large avalanche paths.Any steep slope should be suspect, but extreme winds will build widespread, large wind slabs. These steep wind-loaded slopes are likely to be the most dangerous places. You can identify wind-loaded terrain using visual clues such as drifts and textured surfaces. With wind speeds up to 50mph, wind slabs are likely to form in odd locations, farther downslope, or in typically sheltered terrain. 

    (3/11/2026)

    Notice the debris and long cracks extending far downslope in this low-angle terrain. This is a glaring red flag for storm slabs. 

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    2.5–3

    We have limited information from upper elevations, but we expect this intense storm could reawaken this dangerous, persistent slab problem. Avalanches could run naturally and be large enough to destroy a house. They could run long distances into lower elevations and break widely across terrain features. Avoid traveling on or under steep open terrain at upper elevations. Slides could run through gullies into the middle elevations, so ensure you know what terrain is above you and don't linger in these terrain traps. 

    This remains a high-consequence problem. The same loading that's creating widespread storm and wind slabs is also stressing older weak layers. You can find layers of facets and buried surface hoar just above a couple of crusts about 4-5 feet below the surface.  The only way to manage this problem is to avoid these suspect slopes and the terrain below.  

    (2/28/2026)

    Multiple widely breaking avalanches (up to D2.5) on the southeast aspect of the South Peak of Rock Mtn. SE-S, 5,800ft-6,600ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

Even though snow levels will cool and precipitation will taper on Thursday, the winds will likely keep howling longer into the day. This could prolong instability and, at times, create blizzard-like conditions. With 3-4ft of snow over the week, consider the consequences of deep snow immersion. Tree wells and creek holes can be very dangerous in these conditions. Make sure to keep close tabs on your partners in case you need to perform a rescue. 

NWAC forecaster and other snow professionals out on Wednesday reported widespread touchy storm slab avalanches. Avalanches were triggered remotely and broke widely around terrain features. These avalanches were mostly small, but snowfall rates of greater than 3"/hr were quickly forming larger slabs. On Tuesday, two snowboarders were caught and carried in a storm slab that failed on a crust 2-2.5' deep. These are dynamic and active storms with rapidly changing conditions. Make sure to keep a conservative mindset and wide margins with your terrain selection.

At upper elevations, we have limited information, but we suspect that older weak layers remain active, and this ongoing storm is the first true test.  Given the ongoing loading, avalanches on these weak layers could now be more likely. But we won't know much about this problem until after the storm passes. So treat these weak snow layers as highly suspect until we can reduce the uncertainty. 

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