Stevens Pass
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Katie Warren
Issued: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineExpect spring conditions, where slopes are icy and firm in the morning and wet and heavy in the afternoon. Wet avalanches may be difficult to trigger, but take care to move off steep slopes if you're sinking deeply into wet snow. Overhung cornices could still shed, so don't linger below them for long.
Avalanche Danger
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
7000-6000ft1 - Low
6000-5000ft1 - Low
5000-3000ft1 - Low
Thursday, April 9, 2026
7000-6000ft1 - Low
6000-5000ft1 - Low
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. |
Forecast Discussion
We'll be moving into a spring diurnal pattern, but each day of the week will warm up a little bit more. You should expect icy, slick surfaces in the morning that gradually soften throughout the day. Sunny aspects will warm up more quickly, while northerly aspects will take longer.
Cooler temperatures help reduce the chance of wet avalanches, but with sunny, warm spring days, the potential never goes away completely. As things warm up, pay attention to snow surfaces. If you're sinking in deeply, it might be time to move to lower-angle terrain. Cornices, shedding, and steep rocks and cliffs might still send snow down from above. Move through terrain with overhead hazards more quickly in the warm afternoon.
Observer reported new wet-loose avalanches from steep terrain as recently as Monday night. We have limited observations from upper elevations, but we know that even northerly aspects well into the middle elevation band experienced significant warming and will have surface crusts. Consider bringing equipment to prevent long sliding falls on steep, icy surfaces.
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.