Snoqualmie Pass

An inch or two of new snow won’t be enough to create any real avalanche hazard, but it could form a few very small wind-drifted pockets along exposed ridges. You’ll mainly need to manage variable and, at times, icy travel conditions to stay safe.

A weak storm system could bring a few inches of fresh snow to the Pass Sunday night and Monday, along with strong E-SE winds. While we expect the new snow to drift into small slabs, they should be thin and only about the size of a large table. These wind-loaded pockets shouldn’t pose much risk unless you’re in extreme terrain. You should be able to identify them by looking for textured surfaces, small drifts, and sharp cornices pointing toward wind-loaded slopes. 

This recent snow (2-4in) all sits on a very strong Early February crust. Reports from Sunday indicated very firm and even icy conditions required crampons for some groups. Not surprisingly, we aren’t concerned about the snowpack below this “new ground.” However, you may find that the new snow slides easily along this potentially slick layer. 

At lower elevations, the surface hasn’t fully frozen. So, even if it rains a bit on Monday, it shouldn’t matter. This wet snowpack has been through a lot, and you would be hard-pressed to make it slide, even on very steep slopes. 

Observers reported decent conditions on open, smooth, and often low-angled slopes Sunday. However, everyone we spoke with also mentioned the challenging travel. Expect punchy wet snow, breakable crusts, firm icy slopes, irregular surfaces, open holes, flowing creeks, glide cracks, and frozen piles of debris. 

While not directly relevant to Monday’s forecast, reports of very large wet avalanches continue to trickle in from last week’s atmospheric river. On Sunday, photos from two notable slides on Chair Peak demonstrate the size and power of wet avalanches.