Stevens Pass
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Lee Lazzara
Issued: Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Friday, April 17, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineSun and above-freezing temperatures will increase the risk of wet avalanches. Avoid travel on or directly under slopes where you see rolling balls of snow, small wet avalanches, or where the snow is mushy and wet. Look out for pockets of wind-drifted snow in steep, alpine terrain.
Avalanche Danger
Friday, April 17, 2026
7000-6000ft2 - Moderate
6000-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-3000ft2 - Moderate
Saturday, April 18, 2026
7000-6000ft2 - Moderate
6000-5000ft2 - Moderate
5000-3000ft2 - Moderate
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
(4/16/2026)
Rollerballs are often a precursor to natural wet loose avalanches.
Photo: Dallas Glass
A “slow bake” pattern seems to have kept wet avalanche activity to a steady trickle, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. More sun and warmer temperatures on Friday could bump things up—or not. Expect variability between drainages and watch for signs that wet avalanche activity is increasing. As usual, larger avalanches are possible on long fall-line slopes or in big alpine terrain.
Be cautious about committing to terrain where your exit requires crossing steep, sun-exposed slopes or traveling under overhead hazards. If you find conditions warmer than expected, adjust early—before your options shrink.
Problem #2: Wind Slab
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(4/15/2026)
Looking down the path of a human-triggered wind slab avalanche in East Central.
SS-ASc-R3-D1.5-S
Photo: Payton Schiff
There have been no observations of wind-transported snow in the core areas of Stevens Pass, but it’s likely a different story at upper elevations. The Tye wind station came back online Thursday afternoon and showed gusty, moderate winds at 5,000 feet, so expect some slab formation in alpine terrain. Look for signs of previous wind transport like fresh cornices, scoured snow, and changes in surface texture or stiffness. Most wind slabs should be small, but even a small slab could have high consequences in steep alpine terrain.
Forecast Discussion
A mid-April storm brought a return to winter conditions at Stevens Pass, with 12–16 inches of new snow falling on crust or wet snow from the recent warm-up. The snow settled quickly, and slab avalanche activity appeared limited, with only isolated reports of small slabs on very steep terrain. A natural l-cycle of loose dry avalanches likely occurred during and just after the storm.
No observations came in from Stevens Pass today. Web cams showed generally cloudy sky cover through the day, but recent trends suggest the snow surface is sensitive to even brief warming. Prior sun breaks were enough to produce wet loose activity on solar aspects, with snow becoming moist and heavy below about 5,000 feet.
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.