Stevens Pass
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Josh Hirshberg
Issued: Friday, April 3, 2026 at 6:31 PM PDT
Expires: Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineSaturday will be the warmest, sunniest day in at least a week. You can trigger wet avalanches on steep slopes at most aspects and elevations. At upper elevations, there's still a chance that you could trigger slab avalanches in recently wind-drifted snow.
Avalanche Danger
Saturday, April 4, 2026
7000-6000ft2 - Moderate
6000-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-3000ft2 - Moderate
Sunday, April 5, 2026
7000-6000ft2 - Moderate
6000-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-3000ft1 - Low
Avalanche Danger ScaleLearn moreGeneral InfoGeneral Information1 - LowLow2 - ModModerate3 - ConsConsiderable4 - HighHigh5 - ExtrExtreme
1 - Low | 2 - Moderate |  3 - Considerable |  4 - High |  5 - Extreme | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
| Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
| Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
Avalanche Problems (2)
Problem #1: Wet Loose
Problem Type
Wet Loose
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
On Saturday, wet avalanches may be easy to trigger on underlying slick crusts. While loose avalanches will be shallow and predictable, they can become forceful and dangerous. 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. Travel one at a time and stop out of the way of steep slopes where others are traveling.
All slopes with moist snow at or above 40 degrees should be suspect. It may be easy to trigger them on some slopes and difficult on others. Northerly aspects may be the most reactive, as they've seen the least wetting this week. Use small test slopes and be observant to assess these avalanches on your specific routes.
Problem #2: Wind Slab
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
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 HirshbergAt upper elevations, you may still be able to trigger slab avalanches in wind-drifted snow. Watch for cracking and recent drifts 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.
Westerly wind likely formed slabs on leeward slopes during a storm on the 2nd. While we suspect that it's becoming difficult to trigger wind slab avalanches, we have limited information on conditions at upper elevations. If you travel there, be prepared to make your own assessment.
Forecast Discussion
Saturday will be the hottest, sunniest day since the recent snow fell in the past week. However, this won't be the first time the snow gets wet. Intermittent snowfall, warming, and filtered sun have warmed the snow and made it easy to trigger loose wet avalanches on the 27th, the 2nd, and the 3rd. We expect more wet avalanches on Saturday.
On Friday, skiers intentionally triggered a small (D1) slab avalanche with a cornice fall on a leeward slope of Lichtenberg Mountain. This is the best information that we have regarding current wind slab conditions. On Thursday the 2nd, an NWAC forecaster near Skyline Lake triggered small wet avalanches on steep southeast aspects. By 12p there were minimal new wind-drifted slabs on mid-elevation leeward slopes. Slabs likely continued building throughout the day. In similar terrain on Friday, they could trigger wet avalanches on most aspects.
Since the 29th, light snow fell on a variety of surfaces. Now it mostly rests on crusts, about 2-5" deep on southeast through southwest aspects, and up to 18" deep on northerly 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 1-1.5 feet below the surface.
Prepare for low snow cover, open creeks, and icy surfaces, which create various travel hazards.
This information is provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and describes general backcountry avalanche hazard and conditions.
It does not apply to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation is conducted.