Lawinenlagebericht

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Tue
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

Overnight snowfall might deposit small, unstable slabs on leeward slopes that could avalanche. Use extra caution traveling near ridgelines, rock bands, or exposed terrain where you're most likely to trigger one. Variable and tedious travel conditions will likely outweigh the avalanche danger on Monday.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Following Sunday night's snow and wind, there's a chance you could find a shallow wind drift or slab in leeward facing terrain on Monday. The widespread crusty surfaces before the snowfall will likely restrict the available snow for transport to just what comes overnight; thus, these slabs should stay on the smaller end. However, this crust could also provide a planar surface for these slabs to fail on if triggered. 

    Look for these slabs at mid and upper elevations, along ridgelines, below cliffs, and in other downwind-facing features where blowing snow  can settle. Use a small test slope to check for unstable snow before stepping into bigger leeward terrain. Steer clear of rocky, downwind-facing slopes with deep, dense new snow deposits.

    (1/8/2026)

    A shallow natural slab avalanche at the base of a cliff at lower elevations.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

Sunday was mostly overcast and foggy across Snoqualmie Pass following Saturday’s storm. Unfortunately, most of the moisture fell as rain. Only the upper elevations managed 2–3 inches of snow mid-storm before switching back. Alpental picked up 1.28 inches of water in about 14 hours, with rain tapering off around 2 a.m Sunday morning. Winds eased considerably through the day, blowing lightly at ridgeline.

Observers around the Pass reported a widespread, punchy 0.5 inch surface crust capping any new snow that fell, and presenting difficult travel. In general, snow depths around Snoqualmie Pass are around 3–4 feet at mid elevations, although south and west aspects are a bit thinner, with some stretches of dirt and rock exposed. Where coverage exists, you’ll find the new surface crust resting on wet, large-grained melt forms. Beneath those grains is an interface with a thick, stout crust we’re calling the January Drought Interface (JDI). Below the JDI sits a stack of older, less notable crusts extending to the ground. There hasn't been any recent avalanche activity to warrant much concern with these older layers. 

Come Monday morning, the Pass will have likely picked up a few more inches of snow overnight on top of Sunday's crust. Shallow wind slabs at mid and upper elevations will be the main avalanche hazard, but if the sun makes a surprise appearance, anticipate an increase in wet avalanche activity on sun exposed slopes.

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