Lawinenlagebericht

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
Keine Stufe
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 9 months ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Snow and rain will continue to mix in and out of the Snoqualmie Pass zone over the weekend, creating the potential for both wet and dry avalanche problems. Avalanche hazard should increase as you ascend in elevation, and early-season obstacles exist throughout the mountains. As we kick off this season, information, snow depths, and forecast confidence are all low, so build in an extra safety buffer when creating your travel plans.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    The Pass is forecast to receive a good shot of snow at mid to upper elevations on Saturday. Combined with high precipitation rates and gusty winds, there is a strong possibility of avalanches occurring as you ascend in elevation. We expect the snow to bond fairly well to the warm, wet surface, but early-season avalanches can be challenging to predict.

    Slides may trigger more easily near rocky features or where the wind created thicker piles. With the existing snowpack in the majority of the zone considered generally shallow, avalanches might lack the amount of snow required to bury you. However, with early-season hazards such as exposed rocks, creeks, and bushes prevalent throughout the mountains, even a small avalanche can have serious consequences.  Getting raked through rocks or into a terrain trap would likely end poorly.

    (12/8/2024)

    Quick hand pits as you travel can give you an indication of slab potential or weak points in the recent storm snow.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    Although we’re expecting a snowy pattern on Saturday, we just received a lot of rain, and unfortunately, it is predicted to return sooner rather than later. Plus, this is Snoqualmie Pass. So, wet avalanches need to be on your radar if you’re traveling in the mountains.

    Wet Loose avalanches often start at a point, such as near rocks, and then fan out as they descend. If it's raining or you find wet, unconsolidated snow, be leery of slopes over 35 degrees that have continuous snow coverage. Those are the most likely locations where one of these slides could occur.

    (4/10/2025)

    Example: Wet avalanches from last season after a rain event. Note how they fan out as they move downhill. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Welcome back to another winter with NWAC! Hopefully, you all had a lovely summer and are preparing for a snow-filled season.  Whether you've been following the weather and snowpack development closely this fall, or this is your first glimpse into what's currently happening in the mountains, we're happy to be back here with you again, getting our heads in the snow game. 

First, the bad news. Unfortunately, winter has not started in the snowiest way possible for Snoqualmie Pass. A series of small storms has slowly built snow depth at mid to upper elevations over recent weeks, with 1.5-2 feet measured at the top of Alpental on Tuesday by NWAC forecasters. However, a serious rain event on Friday helped knock back our snowpack at all elevations. Down low, we lack sufficient snow coverage to put out a hazard rating. This could impede your plans of reaching continuous snow to recreate. 

The good news is that we're returning to a snowy regime on Saturday, and as you ascend in elevation, you should find that winter is alive and well. It’s at these elevations where you need to take the most care and realize that avalanches can occur anywhere there's continuous snow coverage. In addition, early-season hazards are present throughout the forecast zone. Look out for exposed rocks and stumps, open creeks or holes, and bare ground. Some of these may be easy to spot, while others are hiding under a few inches of new snow.

The weather is expected to be wet and wild for the foreseeable future, rotating between snow and rain with periods of strong winds. Make sure your travel plans account for the volatile weather and early-season conditions. Have a safe exit plan and give yourself plenty of extra time. Information is limited right now, so if you're out in the mountains, be sure to let us know what you're seeing by submitting an observation.

With the warm start to the 25-26 winter season, we have less snowpack information than usual to start daily forecast operations. For zones and elevation bands with less snow than needed for avalanche hazard, we will issue a forecast with No Rating. Anticipated avalanche and weather conditions will still be updated daily. NWAC will issue an avalanche danger rating for a zone when enough snow to produce avalanches has accumulated at middle and upper elevations.

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